Civil Liberties Organisation, a well-known human rights organisation, has condemned the Wednesday night incursion by Nigerian Police personnel into the Nigeria Labour Congress headquarters in Abuja, also known as Labour House.
The CLO characterised the occurrence as an abuse of democratic norms, wherein a government elected by the people uses coercive institutions to persecute its citizens, in a statement released on Thursday by its Executive Director, Ibuchukwu Ezike.
As previously reported, security personnel dressed in police uniforms, muftis, and masks stormed Labour House, forcing their way inside the NLC bookshop and seizing materials they claimed were meant to incite and organise protesters taking part in the hunger strike that started on August 1, 2024.
The Department of State Services, meanwhile, had earlier denied rumours that its agents had raided the NLC offices.
Citing a similar event in which their national headquarters in Lagos was searched on August 9, 2009, CLO condemned the actions of law enforcement officials, especially the police, raiding people’s homes and offices without a court order.
The group stressed that such behaviour is intolerable and emphasised the importance of accountability and respect for human rights.
The organisation cited examples, saying that on August 9, 2009, a similar approach was observed at the national offices of the organisation, located on Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos, at 13, Soji Adepegba Close.
“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,” the office added.
CLO stated that it was shocking and disturbing that President Bola Tinubu, who had previously demonstrated against both civilian and military regimes, would resort to abusing and threatening people’s rights by using state machinery without authorisation.
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.”
