How pressure from local, international communities forced FG to release Ajaero

More details have emerged on how pressure from Labour, civil society organisations and other bodies, both local and international, forced the government to release the NLC President, Joe Ajaero.

Ajaero was arrested and detained by the DSS at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. He was en route to the United Kingdom, UK, where he was scheduled to attend and address the Congress of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, of Britain.

He was to represent Nigerian workers in critical discussions on workers’ rights and social justice.

According to sources within the NLC, “all modalities for a nationwide strike had been concluded. It was only left for the National Executive Council, NEC, meeting earlier scheduled for Tuesday (10-09-2024) at 9 a.m. to endorse and declare the strike yesterday.

“All critical sector unions were already mobilised and were ready to begin a total strike yesterday until the NLC President was released unconditionally.

‘’Many groups, including the civil society organisations, CSOs, were already threatening fire and brim stones.

”It was equally gathered that the trade unions across the globe were already pushing their home governments to take action against Nigeria over alleged human rights abuses, and persecution of union leaders, among others.

“Among the unions are Public Service International, PSI; International Trade Union Confederation, ITUC; and IndustriALL Global Union, IGU.”

Released

However, Ajaero was freed ahead of the 12 midnight. It was the deadline given government to free the detained labour leader.

Meanwhile, Ajaero spoke exclusively to Vanguard on his ordeal in the hands of the DSS and other security operatives yesterday.

Ajaero said: “It was like the DSS arrested me on behalf of the Intelligence Response Team, IRT, department of the Police.

“IRT operatives came to interrogate me and take my statement, while I was detained.

‘’The DSS also interrogated me and took my statement. I do not know why they have to embarrass me publicly like that.

“The same IRT operatives in whose office we were on August 29, 2024, alongside Mr Femi Falana, came and asked the same questions I was asked in the previous meeting with them.”