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The National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers (NUPSAW) sends a message of support and solidarity with Comrade Abiodun Bamigboye (Abbey Trotsky), who is a leading member of the Democratic Socialist Movement and acting National Chairperson of the Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) following his arrest in Nigeria for four criminal charges.

Abbey Trotsky was arrested for defending casual workers at Sumal Food Limited over wages and slavery working conditions in the workplace. He is currently facing four criminal charges; conspiracy to commit a breach of public space, unlawful assembly, assault, and malicious damage following a strike at Sumal food Limited.

Abbey has given a vivid account of what transpired. The workers invited him to help, based on his activist role in the state and flowing from the rotten role of official in-house union leaders who denied the casual workers any rights. He intervened, based on the request of the workers, who had no platform to represent them. He subsequently negotiated between the workers and Sumal management, alongside Oyo State government officials who acknowledged his role in resolving the issues. Despite all the facts stated, the police authorities were hell-bent on defending the Sumal management, even when it was clear its case was terrible.

NUPSAW condemns, in its strongest terms, the actions of the Nigerian Police Service towards worker activists. This demonstrates the classical relationship between the state and the capitalist class against the working people. It also shows the rotten and corrupt nature of the Nigerian Police System.

We call on the immediate, unconditional release and dropping of all charges against comrade Abiodun Bamigboye (Abbey Trotsky). The Nigerian police should respect activists right to freedom of expression and bring an end to harassment and intimidation of Nigerians peacefully supporting the protests at workplaces.

Issued by NUPSAW