- Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) alerted the public to an invasion by the Nigerian Police at its national headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos
- The human rights organisation called on the Inspector-General of Police to call the police to order
- In another invasion incident by Nigerian security authorities, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) alleged that the Department of State Services (DSS) raided its Abuja headquarters
The CDHR National President Comrade Debo Adeniran and National Publicity Secretary Comrade Idris Olayinka issued a statement noting that the Police surrounded Rights House in the early hours of Friday, August 9.
CDHR calls on IGP to call police to order
The report noted that the police, using several Hilux vans, surrounded the CDHR National Headquarters, Rights House, and prevented participants from holding event.
The statement read, “We, however, use this medium to call on the Inspector-General of Police and the Lagos State Police Commissioner to call these people to order from stopping a lawful and peaceful assembly,”
“Otherwise, it will tantamount to gross violation of rights to peaceful assembly and freedom speech.”
NLC alleges invasion of its Abuja headquarters by DSS
In another invasion incident by Nigerian security authorities, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) alleged that the Department of State Services (DSS) raided its Abuja headquarters at around 8:30 pm on Wednesday, August 7.
The Department of State Services, however, denied the act of raiding at the Nigerian Labour Congress’s headquarters. The Department of State Services, however, denied carrying out the raid.
Consequently, the alleged invasion prompted reactions from some statesmen, and organisations including Amnesty International.
Amnesty International condemns raiding of NLC's headquarters
“Amnesty International strongly condemns the brazen invasion of the headquarters of Nigeria Labour Congress by a contingent of armed security personnel,”
“The chilling raid last night (Wednesday) appears to be part of a sinister and calculated attack designed to intimidate the labour union,”
“We are deeply concerned about the safety of NLC officials. Under international human rights law and standards, trade unions cannot be targeted for their participating activities.”
“Under international human rights law, Nigeria has an obligation not only to respect the rights of trade unions but also to protect these rights from abuse,” the organization stated through its Country Director, Isa Sanusi.
#EndBadGovernance: DSS arrests protest leader in Abuja
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that DSS arrested Lenin, the National Coordinator for the Youth Rights Campaign at his residence in Abuja.
According to the report, Lenin took part in a press briefing with other organisers, where they voiced their displeasure with Tinubu’s Sunday broadcast. He was reportedly assaulted during the arrest.