Security operative’s siege to NLC, CDHR offices raises concerns

Nigerians and International organizations have expressed growing concern over the recent siege by security operatives at the offices of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC in Abuja and the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, CDHR in Lagos.

The incidents occurred amid the ongoing "End Bad Governance" 10 days protests across the country.

Recall that the NLC confirmed that its national office in Abuja was invaded by security operatives, believed to be from the Department of State Services, DSS and the Nigeria Police Force, on Wednesday night. According to a statement by NLC spokesperson Benson Upah, the operatives arrested the security guards, forcing them to hand over the keys to the offices on the second floor.

"The operatives broke into the floor, ransacked the bookshop, and stole hundreds of books and publications," Upah stated.

Similarly, the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, CDHR reported that its national headquarters, Right House, in Ikeja, Lagos, was also invaded by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force. In a statement, the CDHR noted that the police laid siege to the Rights House in the early hours of Friday, preventing staff and visitors from gaining entrance.

"The police presence at Rights House was aimed at stopping the Education Rights Campaign Symposium scheduled at the CDHR office’s main hall," the statement read.

However, the Lagos State Police Command denied claims that its members broke into the Ikeja office of the CDHR. 

SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the Public Relations Officer for the Lagos Police Command, made this announcement on Saturday via his X (formerly Twitter) account.

Also in a statement released on Friday by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Nigeria Police explained that the operation was not targeted at the NLC Secretariat but rather at a specific shop within the building. 

According to the police, the shop was being used by a prime criminal suspect, a foreign national implicated in numerous criminal activities across Nigeria and other African countries.

"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," said ACP Adejobi.

The police emphasized that the NLC, its staff, and leadership were not the focus of the operation. 

"We emphasize that this operation had no connection with the NLC, its Secretariat, staff, or leadership," the statement clarified.

Despite the police's explanation, human rights organizations remain alarmed. 

In a statement on Friday, the Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, expressed deep concern over the unlawful invasion of the CDHR office in Ikeja, Lagos, especially given that it occurred just days after the NLC headquarters was ransacked.

"This is a dangerous dimension to the escalating attacks on human rights. Human rights defenders are increasingly at risk of violations by security agencies," Sanusi said. 

"Such attacks on human rights defenders and their offices send a message that authorities condone these violations. Commanders of security agencies involved in this siege must be held accountable for abusing their power."

Another organization, the Centre for Information Technology and Development, CITAD condems the invasion.

In a statement signed by the Executive Director CITAD Engineer Yunusa Zakaria Ya’u, he explained that the unwarranted actions are not only an assault on NLC and CDHR but also an attack on the principles of democracy, freedom of assembly, and freedom of expression.

“The NLC and CDHR have long been advocates for the rights of Nigerians to freedom of express and association, and their recent criticisms of the security agencies using force against the peaceful protesters in the country during the #EndBadGovernance protest were entirely within their rights as defenders of democracy”

The executive director stressed that” the invasion of these organizations is a clear violation of their rights to operate freely and without fear.

“This invasion is a threat to all civil society organizations, activists, and citizens who speak against injustice meted on Nigerians by the Nigerian government and its security agencies”

All News Ng. in an interview with a Barrister Nura Ahmed from Kano highlighted the legal implications of these actions.

He said, "The attack is an infringement on the fundamental rights to freedom of association and peaceful assembly, as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Under the law, security forces are required to necessarily obtain warrants or orders from a competent court before taking any action that restricts the operations of an organization."

Nura emphasized that the NLC, being a lawful entity, has the right to operate without unlawful interference from the state or its agencies. 

"Any attempt to stifle its activities through illegal means is a violation of the principles of democracy and governance," he added.

Similarly, another Barrister in Kano Abdulrahman Yusuf described the actions as illegal, further raising concerns about the state of human rights and democratic governance in the country.