The Nigeria Police Force has denied reports suggesting that it raided the National Secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress located in Abuja’s Central Business District.
The clarification follows allegations made in a press release by the NLC’s Head of Media and Public Relations on August 7, 2024, which claimed that the Labour House had been raided by police officers, along with some individuals dressed in black T-shirts and plain clothes.
According to a statement by the spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the operation in question was part of an ongoing investigation aimed at apprehending a key suspect involved in criminal activities across Nigeria and other African countries.
The police explained that the suspect was traced to a shop within the building, which houses the NLC Secretariat, and that the operation was carried out legally with the necessary authority.
The police stressed that the NLC Secretariat was not the target of the operation. Instead, the focus was on the shop within the building, which was allegedly being used by the suspect as a front for his criminal activities.
The statement reads partly, “The Nigeria Police Force wishes to clarify that a prime criminal suspect in an ongoing investigation was traced to a shop within the building in the Central Business District, Abuja. Detectives, armed with the appropriate legal authority, conducted an operation at the location, which turned out to be the NLC building.
“This well-coordinated, lawful operation was solely aimed at apprehending the prime suspect—a foreign national implicated in numerous criminal activities across Nigeria and other African countries.
“We emphasize that this operation had no connection with the NLC, its Secretariat, staff, or leadership. The NLC Secretariat was not the focus of the operation, which was targeted at a rented shop within the building used by the suspect as a front for his criminal activities in Nigeria.
“The Nigeria Police Force seeks the cooperation and support of the NLC leadership as we continue this investigation, which is vital to safeguarding our nation. The high-profile nature of the suspect poses a significant security threat to Nigeria and other African nations, making this investigation crucial for the safety of all involved, including the NLC.
“The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to upholding the rule of law, maintaining professionalism, and respecting human rights in the discharge of our statutory duties. We also urge Nigerians to remain vigilant and to conduct security profiling of individuals seeking to rent space within their premises.”
