Nigerian Labour Leader’s Arrest Sparks Condemnation from Human Rights Group

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has condemned the arbitrary and illegal arrest and detention of President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero, by the Department of State Services (DSS). Ajaero was arrested at Abuja International Airport on Monday, sparking widespread condemnation and calls for his immediate release.

HURIWA called on President Bola Tinubu to respect the Constitution and uphold democratic principles. The group reminded the President that trade unionism, human rights activism, and journalism are not criminal acts, but rather essential components of a functioning democracy. The association urged the government to end its harassment and detention of journalists, human rights activists, and trade union figures, including Ajaero.

Ajaero’s arrest comes after he refused to be pocketed by the All Progressives Congress-led federal administration, which has implemented economic austerity measures that have unleashed mass hunger, poor salaries, and mass unemployment amidst high levels of official corruption. HURIWA claimed that Ajaero was arrested because he refused to be silenced and intimidated by the government.

The organization also called on the leaders of the international community, including President Joe Biden of the United States, Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada, and Secretary General Antonio Guiterres of the United Nations, to intervene and stop the government from destroying democratic freedoms in Nigeria.

The Nigeria Police Force has accused Ajaero of terrorism financing, cybercrime, subversion, criminal conspiracy, and treasonable felony, and has linked him to a Briton, Andrew Wynne, who is alleged to have financed the recent #EndBadGovernance or #Hunger protest in the country. Ajaero has been invited and interrogated by the police and has been asked to appear again on September 5 alongside the NLC General Secretary to answer questions related to alleged criminal intimidation and breach of public peace.

HURIWA has asked the government to stop the coordinated attacks on the Nigerian Labour Congress, human rights campaigners, and media practitioners, and to protect and preserve constitutional principles in the country. The group is demanding the immediate release of Ajaero and the end of the government’s attempts to silence and intimidate critics.