The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has enlisted forensic experts to sweep its national headquarters in Abuja for potential surveillance devices following a recent police raid.
The NLC stated that the forensic security audit is necessary before allowing its staff to return to work, as concerns remain about the possibility of bugs being planted during the raid.
On July 7, security agents, including members of the Nigeria Police Force and individuals believed to be from the Department of State Services, conducted a night operation at the NLC’s national secretariat. During the raid, which occurred around 8:30 pm, security guards were detained and coerced into handing over keys to the offices on the second floor of the building.
Benson Upah, the NLC spokesperson, recounted the incident, stating, “The security operatives stormed the 10th floor of the NLC, arrested the security personnel on duty, and then forced him to produce the keys to the offices on the second floor.”
The police later claimed responsibility for the operation, explaining that it was part of an effort to uncover incriminating documents linked to an international figure deemed a threat to Nigeria’s democracy. However, the NLC rejected this explanation and demanded the release of its detained members and confiscated documents.
In an exclusive interview, Chris Onyeka, the NLC’s National Assistant General Secretary, confirmed that the union had hired foreign experts to conduct a comprehensive forensic security audit of the premises. He emphasized that this was necessary to ensure the safety of the staff and the security of the headquarters.
“The NLC’s National Executive Council decided that a forensic security audit was crucial to guarantee that nothing was planted in the offices during the raid. International experts have already begun the process of securing the premises against potential surveillance devices,” Onyeka explained.
He also reiterated that the union found the police’s justification for the raid unacceptable and is still awaiting an apology from both the Federal Government and the police.
