Police Defend Raid on Labour House, Claiming Suspect in Criminal Activities

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has provided an explanation for its recent search operation at Labour House, the headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Abuja.

On Wednesday night, masked police officers dressed in black shirts stormed the building, reportedly in search of sponsors of the #EndBadGovernance protest. The officers allegedly seized books and other items during the operation, prompting the NLC to condemn the act and issue an ultimatum for the return of the confiscated materials.

In a statement released on Friday night, Force Spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi clarified that the NLC was not the target of the operation. Instead, the search was aimed at an individual who operated a shop within the Labour House premises and was allegedly involved in criminal activities.

Adejobi stated that “Detectives, armed with the appropriate legal authority, conducted an operation at the location, which turned out to be the NLC building.” He emphasized that 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.”

The police spokesperson made it clear that the operation had no connection with the NLC, its staff, or leadership. He explained that the suspect had been using a rented shop within the Labour House as a front for his illicit activities, which posed a significant security threat to Nigeria and other African nations.

Adejobi appealed for the “cooperation and support of the NLC leadership” as the investigation continues, stating that the “high-profile nature of the suspect makes this investigation crucial for the safety of all involved, including the NLC.”