Nigerian police have conducted a raid at the home of Drew Povey, owner of Ivy Valley Books, located in the Labour House, Abuja. The operation is reportedly connected to the #EndBadGovernance protests and suspicions of terrorism financing.
Just before this, SaharaReporters detailed a similar police action at the residence of Helen Batubo, the Principal of Stars of Nations Schools. Batubo’s home in Serenity Estate, Karshi, Nasarawa State, was also targeted due to her alleged involvement in the protests.
According to reports from Tuesday, the school principal had been summoned by the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Department of Force Intelligence. The summons, linked to accusations of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treason, subversion, and cybercrime, instructed Batubo to attend an interview on August 20, 2024, at the IRT Complex in Guzape District, Abuja.
Notably, Batubo is the stepdaughter of Drew Povey, who runs both the school and the bookshop within the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) premises in Abuja.
On Wednesday morning, police officers reportedly forced their way into Drew Povey’s home. However, sources indicate that Povey is currently out of the country.
“The home of Drew Povey, owner of Iva Valley Books, was broken into by police officers this morning,” an insider familiar with the situation told SaharaReporters.
It was revealed that Iva Valley Books, established in 2017, operates on a non-profit basis. The NLC provided the office space rent-free, while Povey covered other costs, including staff wages. The bookstore primarily offers books at affordable prices to trade unionists and civil society members. Many of the books are used and sourced by Povey during his travels between London and Abuja.
A source shared, “The bookshop’s modest turnover was supplemented by a small business center. Most of its customers were pensioners who needed document copies for the Trust Fund pension company located in the same building as the NLC.”
Operating transparently, the bookshop has displayed banners and posters at its entrance on the second floor of Labour House. It has also provided book stalls for various trade union meetings and external conferences, including May Day celebrations at Eagle Square for the past two years.
Recently, security agents raided the bookshop and other rooms in the building, seizing materials they claimed were used to incite and organize the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests across the country.
“They took away all the books from a bookshop that has been operating openly for the last seven years. The books covered topics such as trade unionism, environmentalism, feminism, and included several novels,” a source told SaharaReporters.
In response, Iva Valley Books has firmly denied any connection to the accusations.
Regarding the earlier raid at the home of Stars of Nations Schools Principal, Helen Batubo, a source said, “The police invaded the house of the school principal due to her alleged involvement in the #EndBadGovernance protests. Although they had already agreed to an interview next week, the police forcefully entered the house on Wednesday.”
Further information suggests that Drew Povey’s wife was also summoned for questioning on similar charges of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treason, subversion, and cybercrime.
The police letter addressed to Batubo, the principal of the school in Sabon Gida Akwotapy Village, Karshi District, Karu Local Government Area, Nasarawa State, was delivered on Monday by seven police officers in a large Hilux vehicle.
The letter, dated August 19, 2024, and signed by Assistant Commissioner of Police Adamu Mu’azu on behalf of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, IRT, warned Batubo of a potential warrant of arrest if she failed to comply with the summons.
SaharaReporters also noted on Monday that the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, has been invited by the Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Intelligence Response Team.
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