I was interrogated on Labour Party, protests – Ajaero narrates ordeal with DSS

The President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Joe Ajaero, has narrated his ordeal while in the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS, and other security agencies.

Recalls that upon his arrest and detention, the DSS seized the NLC President’s phones and international passport.

While confirming the release of the items on Tuesday, Ajaero said it was true his phones and passport had been returned to him by the DSS.

Explaining his experience in the hands of the security agents, Ajaero said, it was like the DSS arrested him on behalf of the Intelligence Response Team, IRT, department of the Police because IRT operatives came to interrogate him and took his statement while he was detained.

‘’The DSS also interrogated me and took my statement. I do not know why they have to embarrass me publicly like that.

“The same IRT operatives in whose office we were on August 29, 2024, alongside Mr Femi Falana, came and asked the same questions I was asked in the previous meeting with them.

“They asked about the operator of the Iva Valley Bookshop on the second floor of NLC secretariat building.

“They asked me whether we had communicated on the phone, whether he (the Iva Valley operator) communicated with me in writing and so on.

‘’They also asked if I knew the protesters (#EndBadGovernance or #Endhunger), especially Eleojo Opaluwa, a staff of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE. I told them I knew him because I employed him at NUEE.

“They equally asked about the Labour Party, LP, whether we are running the party. I told them we do not run the Labour Party, but that we are a trustee of the party.

“I also told them that the Labour Party they see today was founded when Adams Oshiomhole was President of NLC.

“Also, they asked about the issue of Air Peace which we had settled since last year.

“It is like the security agents are searching for evidence on how and what to nail us with. That is why they have continued to embarrass, persecute, intimidate and do whatever they liked to cow us,” he narrated.