The Organized Labour has stated that the ”invasion” of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) headquarters by the Nigerian Police Force, NPF, was a deliberate provocation by the government.

The NLC stated this while rejecting the statement by the Nigerian Police over the alleged invasion.

The rejection follows a police statement on Friday, August 9, claiming that their operation was not targeted at the NLC but rather focused on apprehending a foreign national linked to criminal activities across Nigeria and other African countries.

The police maintained that the operation, which took place within the NLC headquarters building, was legally sanctioned and aimed at a rented shop within the premises that was being used by the suspect as a front for his criminal operations. The statement emphasized that the operation had no connection with the NLC, its secretariat, staff, or leadership.

However, the NLC, in a communique issued after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, dismissed the police explanation as insufficient and unconvincing. The Labour center described the police statement as an “afterthought” and suggested that it raised more questions than answers, calling for a clearer explanation from the government.

The communique from the NEC partly read: “NEC-in-session rejects outrightly the explanation offered by the Police as the reason for the invasion. It described it as rather an afterthought and an attempt to cover the hidden motives behind such action as it raises more questions than answers. It therefore demands a clear explanation from the government as quickly as possible.”

The Labour Centre emphasized the importance of restraint and noted that its next course of action would depend on the government’s response to its queries.

“NEC believes that the invasion by the Police is a deliberate provocation by the Government and as such would not allow itself to act out of anger but to exercise caution for the greater sake of our nation. It insists that in the midst of recklessness, insanity, and irresponsibility, patriots would always take the high road of restraint. This is what is required now and the response of the government to our queries will determine what our next line of action will be in the coming days,” the statement concluded.