MWUN demands release of detained colleagues

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has called on the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to immediately release 17 dockworkers who are currently under detention over narcotics related issues aboard two vessels at the Lagos Seaports.

The dockworkers were arrested onboard MV Cha Yaree Naree and MV Karteria both at Greenview Development Nigeria Limited (GDNL), at the Lagos Port Complex (LPC).

Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, lamented that the dockworkers were reportedly on duty before their arrest on board the two ships, which allegedly were laden with narcotics.

This was contained in a statement on Sunday which was signed by President General of MWUN

The President General said the union was worried as its members seem to be targeted for arrest whilst ship agents and consignee who are in possession of ship manifest were not interrogated let alone arrested.

According to him, there was no information that the drugs were found on the workers, adding that “Surprisingly, the poor workers who were neither the ship agents or consignee of the vessel were were arrested and kept incarcerated by the NDLEA since October 13 2021 till date, without being released or charged to court as it would have been done in tenet of the rule of law.”

“Similarly, the union was also informed that on the 7th of November 2021, another four dockworkers who were on duty on board MV Karteria were arrested by operatives of NDLEA in connection with a bag said to be found in the vessel, adding that the content of it was not disclosed.

“Again this bag that was found with undisclosed content was not in possession of any innocent workers arrested and kept in detention for days without being released and charge to court. Their cell phones were also said to have been seized by NDLEA operatives.”

He said the union was not in any way in support of either importation or peddling of hard drugs into the country, but frowned at the continued harassment, intimidation, arrest and detention of members who have been kept incommunicado for over two weeks without being released or charged to court.

The PG also called on the NDLEA to release the workers or charged them to court accordingly.

“Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria is informed of the arrest and continued detention of 13 dockworkers and crew by the national drug law and enforcement Agency (NDLEA) since the 13th of October, 2021.

“The workers were reportedly arrested whilst on duty on board MV Cha Yaree Naree.”