The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has criticised the Department of State Services over the manner its operatives arrested Omoyele Sowore at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In a statement issued on Thursday, NLC President Joe Ajaero described the incident as disturbing and warned that it poses a threat to Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
The labour union condemned what it described as the aggressive conduct, public intimidation, and humiliation displayed by DSS operatives during Sowore’s arrest.
Ajaero said the manner in which the operation was carried out was unnecessary and unbecoming of an agency expected to operate with professionalism and restraint.
He also questioned the role of the DSS in the matter, expressing concern over the agency’s involvement in both the complaint and custody aspects of the case.
BACKSTORY…
The latest reaction from the Nigeria Labour Congress stems from the long-running legal and political battles involving Omoyele Sowore and Nigerian security agencies.
Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress and publisher of Sahara Reporters, has for years remained a prominent critic of successive governments, often leading protests and speaking against corruption, insecurity, and governance failures.
His relationship with the Department of State Services has been tense since his 2019 arrest over the “RevolutionNow” protest, a case that sparked national and international criticism over alleged abuse of power and suppression of dissent.
The recent courtroom arrest has revived concerns among labour groups, civil society organisations, and opposition figures about the treatment of political critics and the role of security agencies in democratic spaces.
The NLC’s intervention reflects broader fears over civil liberties, due process, and the shrinking space for political opposition in Nigeria.
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