Detectives from the Nigeria Police Force revealed on Friday that they had tracked a suspect under investigation to a shop located in the Nigerian Labour Congress building.
The NLC had made allegations against personnel from the police and the Department of State Services for intruding into its Abuja office on Wednesday night.
According to a statement by NLC spokesperson, Benson Upah, the security guards were arrested by the operatives and coerced into surrendering keys to the offices on the second floor.
Upah stated that the operatives forcibly entered the floor, rummaged through the bookshop, and made off with hundreds of books and publications.
In response, the police, through a statement from the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, explained that the operation was conducted to apprehend a foreign national linked to various criminal activities across Nigeria and other African countries.
Adejobi mentioned, “The Nigeria Police Force is aware of a publication claiming that the NLC national secretariat, also known as the Labour House, situated in the Central Business District, Abuja, was raided by the Police.
“The Nigeria Police Force clarifies that a principal 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, carried out an operation at the location, which turned out to be the NLC building.
“This well-organized, lawful operation was solely aimed at apprehending the prime suspect—a foreign national implicated in numerous criminal activities across Nigeria and other African countries.”
Adejobi affirmed that the operation was unrelated to the NLC secretariat or its leadership.
He stated, “We stress that this operation had no ties to the NLC, its secretariat, staff, or leadership. The NLC secretariat was not the focal point of the operation, which was directed at a rented shop within the building utilized by the suspect as a facade for his criminal operations in Nigeria.
“The Nigeria Police Force seeks the collaboration and backing of the NLC leadership as we pursue this investigation, crucial for the protection of our nation. The suspect’s high-profile status poses a substantial security risk to Nigeria and other African nations, underscoring the significance of this investigation for the safety of all involved, including the NLC.”