NLC President Ajaero opens up on arrest, detention by DSS

The president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has revealed details of his arrest and questioning following his release by the Department of State Services (DSS) after a 15-hour detention.

It could be recalled that Ajaero was arrested on Monday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja just as he was about to board a flight to the United Kingdom for a Trade Union Congress (TUC) event.

Sharing the experience in a recent interview, Ajaero said he was interrogated about an alleged terrorism financing involving a British national, Andrew Wynne.

During his detention at the DSS office in Abuja, Ajaero revealed that he was not only questioned by DSS operatives but also interrogated by police officers.

The police officers grilled him over his involvement in the #EndBadGovernance nationwide protests that took place in August.

Ajaero’s detention led to criticism from labour unions, human rights groups, and civil society organizations.

It can also be recalled that the NLC condemned the arrest and gave the DSS a Tuesday midnight deadline to release Ajaero, threatening to mobilize its affiliates, state councils, and civil society allies to take action if he was not freed.