Ajaero Freed Amidst Public Outcry Over Arrest

NLC President Joe Ajaero Released After Widespread Outrage Over Arrest.

The Department of State Services (DSS) has released Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero, following a wave of condemnation and outrage over his arrest.

Ajaero was taken into custody on Monday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, while en route to London to attend the Trade Union Congress (TUC) conference in the United Kingdom.

The DSS’s actions have been widely criticized, with many calling for Ajaero’s immediate release. The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has also demanded that President Bola Tinubu direct the DSS to cease its attack on the organization.

Ajaero’s arrest came just 11 days after he was questioned by the police on August 29. The police had re-invited him on August 28 to investigate allegations of criminal intimidation, conducts likely to cause a breach of public peace, and malicious damage to properties.

However, according to Ajaero’s legal adviser, Femi Falana, the arrest was not connected to the police invitation. Falana stated that the DSS failed to provide any reason for Ajaero’s arrest.

The NLC has also dismissed claims that Ajaero was arrested for failing to honor an invitation by the DSS or any other security agency, calling the reports “mere mischief.”

Air Peace Airline, which had written a petition against the NLC in 2023, has also clarified that the petition was withdrawn after resolving their differences with the NLC.

Ajaero’s release has been met with relief, but the incident has raised concerns about the government’s actions and their impact on civil society.