The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), led by Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, has strongly condemned the abduction of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, by Nigerian security agents.
Ajaero was detained at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, while on his way to attend a workers’ congress organized by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Britain.
Comrade Ajaero was scheduled to represent Nigerian workers and address a global assembly at the Trade Union Congress in the United Kingdom.
MWUN described the abduction as unjust and baseless, asserting that Ajaero is not a fugitive and has no charges against him, either in Nigeria or internationally. The union expressed outrage over his detention, labeling it a violation of his fundamental human rights.
The detention, which occurred without a warrant, has left Ajaero incommunicado since Monday morning, with no information on his whereabouts. MWUN criticized the state agents’ actions as an intentional attempt to humiliate and dehumanize the NLC President, describing it as an act of intimidation against the labour leader, which has no legal justification.
MWUN further expressed grave concern over this “ugly incident,” highlighting that the rights of Comrade Ajaero have been severely violated. The union has called for his immediate and unconditional release, urging the state to respect the rule of law.
Should the government fail to release Ajaero, MWUN warned that it will not hesitate to follow any directives issued by the Nigeria Labour Congress in response to the abduction.
