On Monday, September 9, 2024, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, was arrested by the country’s secret police at the airport as he prepared to attend a Trade Union Conference in the United Kingdom. The NLC swiftly condemned the arrest, describing it as an act of “intimidation and assault” against the labour movement. On the same day, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) reported that operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) had invaded and taken over its office in Abuja. This brazen invasion came barely 24 hours after SERAP urged President Tinubu to instruct the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) to reverse the recent hike in petrol prices.

These actions are part of a troubling pattern of government repression targeting activists, civil society groups, and labour leaders. Earlier, on Sunday, September 1, 2024, Comrade Daniel Akande, a member of the Solidarity Network for Workers’ Rights, was unlawfully arrested during a church service by officers of the Nigerian Police’s Inspector General of Police Response Team (IRT) in Guzape District, FCT, Abuja. The officers falsely claimed the arrest was linked to a murder case, seizing both Daniel’s and his wife’s smartphones in the process. This incident exemplifies the continued crackdown on peaceful protesters and activists across the country.

These alarming developments point to a broader governmental effort to stifle dissent and intimidate those who speak out against anti-people policies, particularly in light of the growing opposition to fuel price hikes and economic hardships imposed on Nigerian citizens. Comrade Daniel’s arrest comes shortly after the detention of fellow activists like Adaramoye Michael, Angel Innocent, Mosiu Sodiq and others, who were arrested for participating in the #EndBadGovernance protests. Despite their peaceful exercise of their democratic rights, these individuals were charged with treason and terrorism by the government on September 2, 2024. These absurd charges are alarming and raise serious concerns about the Nigerian government’s misuse of the law to suppress dissent.

According to recent reports, law enforcement agencies have compiled additional lists of activists they plan to arrest, with one officer referring to Daniel’s arrest as “the meat is too small,” signaling their intent to further escalate the crackdown on activists. This is a blatant violation of fundamental human rights and serves as a chilling attempt to silence voices calling for social justice and reform. These arrests follow a long history of targeting journalists, many of whom have disappeared and were later discovered to have been unlawfully detained.

Meanwhile, the government has continued to exacerbate the economic suffering of Nigerians. On September 3, 2024, fuel prices skyrocketed to between N855 and N1,400 per liter, depending on the state, following a previous hike from N197 to N618. In addition, the government has introduced a N50 charge for bank transfers exceeding N10,000 and is preparing to raise VAT. These policies are hitting Nigerians hard, with over 63% of the population already living in multidimensional poverty. The rising cost of living, including school fees and energy prices, is making education and basic needs increasingly unaffordable for the working class. Public universities are hiking tuition fees, pushing university education out of reach for many, while the so-called student loan scheme introduced by the Tinubu administration has proven to be little more than a façade for the government’s refusal to fund the education sector.

In light of these alarming developments, we call on all members of the International communities, labour unions, civil society organizations, the Nigerian Bar Association, and the press to stand in solidarity with us in demanding justice for Comrade Daniel and other detained activists. This is not just about individual arrests—it is about defending our fundamental rights to free expression and protest against unjust government policies.

We Demand:

1. The immediate and unconditional release of Comrade Daniel Akande, and other detained activists.
2. The dropping of all false charges against Adaramoye Michael, Angel Innocent, Mosiu Sodiq and the other activists, as well as against peaceful protesters.
3. An end to the federal government’s persecution of journalists and activists.
4. The reversal of the recent hike in petroleum prices.
5. A rollback of the electricity tariff increase.
6. A reversal of the increase in tuition fees in public universities and the proper funding of the education sector.

These acts of repression only serve to deepen the economic and social crises in Nigeria. We call on all concerned citizens to join the struggle against these injustices and to demand an end to policies that only further impoverish the masses.