The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has slammed the Department of State Services, DSS, over the conduct of its operatives during the arrest of the African Action Congress, AAC, presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
This is contained in a statement by the NLC president, Joe Ajaero, on Thursday, describing the incident as an embarrassment and a threat to Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
The NLC condemned what it called the ‘rowdy scene’ bullish behaviour, and mass intimidation’ displayed by DSS operatives while taking Sowore into custody.
“We are appalled by the conduct of the DSS at the Federal High Court, Abuja while taking into custody Mr. Omoyele Sowore. This is a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
“The rowdy scene, bullish behaviour, the mass intimidation by the personnel and the humiliation of Sowore were totally unnecessary and embarrassing to an organisation that carries with it a certain level of sophistication or elegance.
“We are opposed to this kind of drama by our Secret Service as there was no need for it. Who were they re-enacting this for, anyway,” Ajaero asked.
The NLC president equally queried the involvement of the DSS in the case, expressing concern that the agency appeared to be acting as both the complainant and the custodian of the accused.
‘Threat to Nigeria’s democracy’ – NLC blasts DSS over Sowore’s arrest