The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a stern warning against the country’s drift toward authoritarianism, condemning what it describes as repeated harassment of civil rights activist Omoyele Sowore through frequent arrests and prolonged detentions.
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The union released a statement Wednesday expressing alarm over Sowore’s latest arrest, particularly allegations that the activist sustained injuries during the detention process. The labour union characterised the pattern of arrests as unacceptable government overreach that threatens constitutional freedoms.
NLC President Joe Ajaero questioned the frequency of Sowore’s arrests, asking, “How many times has Sowore been arrested this year alone?” while challenging government officials to pursue legal remedies through proper court channels rather than what the union termed “harassment tactics”.
The labour organisation framed Sowore’s treatment as part of a broader assault on constitutional rights, specifically citing freedoms of speech and association as fundamental guarantees that the government appears to be systematically undermining.
“If the state can arbitrarily detain Sowore today, no journalist, no trade unionist, no activist, and no ordinary citizen is safe tomorrow,” Ajaero warned in the statement, drawing parallels to Nigeria’s authoritarian past.
The NLC expressed particular concern about Nigeria potentially sliding “back into the dark days of dictatorship, where fear replaces freedom and dissent is met with brute force.” The union argued that such government behaviour damages Nigeria’s reputation both domestically and internationally by suggesting that authorities consider themselves above the law.
Ajaero described Sowore as having “become a moral compass we can ill afford to treat with levity,” positioning the activist as a significant figure in Nigeria’s civil rights landscape whose treatment reflects broader governmental attitudes toward dissent.
The labour congress issued three specific demands: immediate and unconditional release of Sowore, an end to harassment and intimidation of activists and dissenting voices, and full adherence to constitutional guarantees of free speech and assembly.
The statement represents the NLC’s broader stance on civil liberties, with Ajaero stating the organisation’s commitment to “defending the rights of the working class and the oppressed.” The union positioned itself as standing in solidarity with all victims of government repression.
The labour union’s warning about Nigeria becoming a “police state” reflects broader anxieties about democratic backsliding in Africa’s most populous nation.
The statement concluded with a call for strengthened justice and democratic institutions, arguing that such improvements would benefit all Nigerians rather than serving narrow political interests.
Meanwhile, the Take It Back (TIB) Movement has threatened nationwide protests following the detention of its convener, Omoyele Sowore, by the Nigeria Police Force at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday. National Coordinator Juwon Sanyaolu condemned what he described as “persistent harassment, intimidation, and unlawful detention” of the human rights activist and 2023 presidential candidate, labelling the police invitation as “politically motivated.” The police, through the Inspector General of Police Monitoring Unit, are investigating Sowore over allegations of forgery and inciting public disturbance, with authorities reportedly obtaining a court order for his detention while denying him access to details of the petition filed against him.
The movement has mobilised support from multiple quarters, with TIB declaring that “the Nigerian people, students, workers, the public, and the entire membership are hereby put on notice for a nationwide protest against the continuous harassment of Sowore.”
The African Action Congress (AAC) has also joined the call for mass action, with National Publicity Secretary Femi Adeyeye threatening to “occupy Police Commands across the country until Sowore is released and justice is served.” Former presidential candidate Adewole Adebayo criticised the police’s handling of the matter, questioning the allocation of resources to what he termed “misplaced priorities” when Nigeria faces widespread security challenges, noting that law enforcement should not be used to silence critics or watchdogs.
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