Joe Ajero, the president of Nigeria’s largest labor federation, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), was arrested by the Department of State Security (DSS) on Monday at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
The arrest occurred as he was preparing to board a flight to the UK for union business.
Ajero’s arrest follows his recent criticism of the Nigerian government’s decision to raise gasoline prices by 39%.
He had threatened to call a strike if the price increase was not reversed. This move by the government had already sparked cost of living protests in early August, and analysts fear it could further exacerbate inflation, which is already in double digits.
The United Action Front of Civil Society has condemned the arrest, describing it as having been carried out in a “Gestapo manner” and criticizing the DSS for using “dehumanizing tactics” instead of following conventional practices such as extending invitations to high-profile individuals.
The DSS has not yet commented on the arrest or disclosed any charges against Ajero
