The president of Nigeria's largest union was arrested on Monday, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said.

Joe Ajero was apprehended by Department of State Security (DSS) officials at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in the capital, Abuja, as he tried to board a flight to the UK.

Ajero's arrest comes days after he criticized the Nigerian government for raising the price of gasoline by 39% and threatening a strike if the decision was not reversed.

The United Action Front of Civil Society condemned Ajero's arrest as having been carried out in a "Gestapo manner" – equating the arrest to those of Nazi Germany's feared secret police force – and criticized a "needless show of force."

They said the DSS had "broken the civil and conventional practice earlier adopted by the police in security matters concerning well-known high-profile citizens and leaders of the people, like the President of the NLC."

"Instead of extending invitations to such individuals, they have resorted to dehumanizing tactics such as forceful abduction to embarrass and intimidate them like common criminals."

High fuel prices was one of the reasons that sparked cost of living protests in early August in the country and analysts say the latest increase could further stoke inflation that is already in double digits.

The Department of State Security did not immediately comment on the arrest.

mf/rm (Reuters)