The Nigeria Police has owned up to invading the national secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, at the Central Business District of Abuja.
The security agency claimed the mission was a high-profile operation aimed at apprehending a prime suspect, a foreign national implicated in numerous criminal activities across Nigeria and other African countries.
The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said in a statement issued Friday that the NLC Secretariat was not the focus of the operation but a rented shop within the building used by the suspect as a front for his criminal activities in Nigeria.
The NLC had raised an alarm that police officers, alongside some individuals in black T-shirts and others in plainclothes, raided the Labour House.
The police explained that the operation had no connection with the NLC, its secretariat, staff, or leadership.
The statement reads: “The Nigeria Police Force has noted a publication alleging that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) National Secretariat, known as the Labour House, located in the Central Business District, Abuja, was raided by the Police.
“The Nigeria Police Force wishes to clarify that a prime criminal suspect in an ongoing investigation was traced to a shop within the building in the Central Business District, Abuja. Detectives, armed with the appropriate legal authority, conducted an operation at the location, which turned out to be the NLC building.
“This well-coordinated, lawful operation was solely aimed at apprehending a prime suspect—a foreign national implicated in numerous criminal activities across Nigeria and other African countries.
“We emphasize that this operation had no connection with the NLC, its Secretariat, staff, or leadership. The NLC Secretariat was not the focus of the operation, which was targeted at a rented shop within the building used by the suspect as a front for his criminal activities in Nigeria.
“The Nigeria Police Force seeks the cooperation and support of the NLC leadership as we continue this investigation, which is vital to safeguarding our nation.
“The high-profile nature of the suspect poses a significant security threat to Nigeria and other African nations, making this investigation crucial for the safety of all involved, including the NLC.”