FORMER MABISCO WORKERS ARRESTED AND DETAINED AT PANTI, LAGOS, FOR NO REASON

Policemen criminally posed as Sahara Reporters journalists

CDWR DEMANDS IMMEDIATE AND UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE OF THESE WORKERS!

Three former workers of Mabisco, Mayor Biscuit Company Ltd, a biscuit manufacturing company located in Agbara, Ogun state, were arrested on Thursday November 25 at Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos and currently detained at Panti Police Station in Yaba.

They are Usman Yahaya (08063205712), Bisiriyi Babatunde (09081192184) and Olayiwola Akin (08140640231)

They were arrested by policemen who criminally posed as journalists from the Sahara Reporters and sought to speak with them over the poor working condition at MABISCO. In actual fact, Sahara Reporters reported the poor working conditions workers are subjected to on Tuesday November 23, 2021 with the headline: (“Ogun Biscuit Factory Suspends Workers for Protesting N1000 Slave Wage”).

The company owner Mr Felix King Eiremiokhae who was not happy about the report ordered the arrest of these workers.

The arrest took place at No 6 Allen Avenue Ikeja, the office of Citizens Aid for Social Justice.

The working conditions at MABISCO are poor and workers are subjected to all sorts of anti-labour practices. Recently, some workers were suspended for protesting at the N1000 daily wage. It is interesting to note that workers work 12 hours daily but earn so little. Mr Felix King deducts pension contributions but pockets it instead of remitting to the Pension Fund Administrator (PFA).

The three workers are currently detained at Panti Police Station for no reason. The Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights (CDWR) demands their immediate and unconditional release. THEY ARE NOT CRIMINALS!

We appeal to human rights and pro-labour organizations as well as the general public to intervene in the plights of these workers by sending protest messages to Mr Felix King Eiremiokhae (MABISCO CEO) on 08171229888 to demand their release. A call on should also be made on the Nigerian Police to release the 3 workers immediately and unconditionally

The CDWR calls on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to also intervene in this matter.

Comrade Rufus Olusesan

National Chairperson

Comrade Chinedu Bosah

National Publicity Secretary

E-mail: [email protected]