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A prominent human rights group, Civil Liberties Organisation, has condemned the invasion of the Nigeria Labour Congress headquarters in Abuja, known as Labour House, by Nigerian Police officers on Wednesday night.
In a statement issued by its Executive Director, Ibuchukwu Ezike, on Thursday, the CLO described the incident as an abuse of democratic principles, where a government elected by the people resorts to using coercive institutions to oppress its citizens.
PUNCH Online had reported that security operatives in police uniforms, mufti, and masks stormed Labour House, forcefully breaking into the NLC’s bookshop and confiscating materials, which they claimed were used to organise and incite protesters participating in the hunger protest that began on August 1, 2024.
Meanwhile, the Department of State Services earlier dismissed reports stating that its operatives raided the NLC headquarters.
CLO condemned the law enforcement agencies, particularly the police, for their behaviour, invading people’s homes and offices without court warrants, citing a similar incident on August 9, 2009, where their national headquarters in Lagos was raided.
The organisation emphasised that such actions are unacceptable and highlighted the need for accountability and respect for human rights.
Citing instances, the organisation stated that on August 9, 2009, a similar treatment was visited at the organisation’s 13, Soji Adepegba Close national headquarters on Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos.
“Our office at 13, Soji Adepegba Close on Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos, was illegally sealed for one year with our key office materials, laptops, books and project facilities carted away till a court order vacated them from our premises.
“Till date, the police have defiantly refused to obey the judgment of the court that ordered them to pay CLO compensations and return its stolen property,” Ezike said.
“Also, under the Muhammadu Buhari regime, police, DSS, EFCC and other repressive institutions of coercion and terror were used to terrorise, intimidate and coerce judicial officers and other men and women of impeccable, strong characters to submission.
“We hold that it is an abuse of democratic process for a government that was elected by the people to turn around and use its institutions of coercion to oppress its citizens,” he added.
CLO said that it was shocking and unbelievable that President Bola Tinubu, who has protested against both military and civilian regimes before 2015, resorted to the illegal use of state machineries to threaten and abuse the rights of the people.
The statement added, “We demand that the police return carted NLC property without delay and tender an apology to them for this flagrant and heinous act.
“In a similar manner, CLO warns the Federal Government of Nigeria to steer clear of the Russian flag controversy in the aftermath of the #Endbadgovernance protest by releasing all those detained for armlessly flying the Russian flag in some parts of Nigeria.
“We also urge the government to drop the proposed criminal charges against the suspects and end the case in that way, especially as we have not found a section of our Constitution that criminalises the flying of other countries flags in Nigeria.
“Moreover, Russia has denied any involvement in the flag matter. Nigerian authorities should, therefore, allow the sleeping dog to lie, as our country cannot engage in any confusion that may culminate in both human and material losses.
“Let our strong military and other security agencies divert their attention and energies to combating insecurity threatening Nigeria and leave the Russian flag matter alone.
“In our thinking, too, the Tinubu government should focus its minds, strength, might, and intelligence more on how to address the stinking corruption in the system, hunger, poverty, insecurity, and subsidy crisis threatening our country and people before Nigerian youth return to the protest.
“These are the concerns of the CLO and all patriotic Nigerians, at least, for now. May a stitch in time save us nine.”
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