Labour leader and President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has been released by the Department of State Services (DSS) following his detention on Monday.
Ajaero confirmed his release around 11 p.m. after being held and questioned for about 15 hours at the DSS office in Abuja.
The NLC president was arrested early Monday morning at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport while preparing to board a flight to the United Kingdom for a Trade Union Congress (TUC) event.
Despite his release, Ajaero disclosed that the DSS had seized his travel passport.
According to Ajaero, his detention involved questioning over alleged terrorism financing related to a British national, Andrew Wynne, as well as the #EndBadGovernance protests that took place in August. Police officers also reportedly interrogated him during his detention.
The NLC had earlier condemned Ajaero’s arrest and issued a 24-hour ultimatum for his release, warning of a nationwide response if he was not freed by midnight Tuesday. Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, and prominent figures like activist Femi Falana, criticized the government’s actions and demanded his immediate release.
Ajaero has maintained his innocence regarding the terrorism financing allegations, having previously honored a police invitation in August for questioning. He was also arrested in November 2022 in Imo State during a protest over unpaid workers’ salaries and other labor-related issues.
