NLC President, Ajaero, Was Watchlisted, Arrested On Request –Security Source

There are strong indications that the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, may have been placed on a “watchlist” by an unnamed security agency, leading to his arrest yesterday, New Telegraph checks have revealed.

Reports said Ajaero was apprehended by “State agents” at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, as he prepared to board a morning flight to London, the United Kingdom (UK), for a scheduled labour-related event. Efforts to get the Department of State Services (DSS) to comment on the development were not successful, as an official, who was contacted simply said: “I sincerely do not have any comment on that.

However, you can send an email for any further comments.” But, an establishment source, who confirmed the arrest, said it was done based on a request made by an agency, which he refused to disclose.

He, nonetheless, said the NLC boss was handed over to the unnamed agency, shortly after he was arrested. His words: “”The practice is that the DSS is the statutory body charged with the agency, and so any institution that is interested in any person, will send to the DSS for a watchlist. “So, once the DSS intercepts the person, they hand him/her over to the requesting agency.

“Definitely, he (NLC President) is not with the DSS.” Another source, who spoke in a similar vein, noted thus: “I can tell you that DSS acts on watchlists. “So, if any agency, for security reasons, asks for somebody to be watchlisted…If it is the DSS, they will keep the person in custody.

“But, if it is not, like other services, can place subjects of interest on the watchlist. “So, when you are travelling, you are normally intercepted. And when you are intercepted, you are given to the agency that made the request.

“But, if it is a DSS case, they will take the person into custody”. He added: “From what we are seeing, it is not a DSS case; he was intercepted and handed over. “It is not a DSS case; he was only intercepted, possibly based on watchlist action, and handed over to the agency that requested for him.”