A presentation marking World Human Rights Day was violently disrupted in Abuja on Thursday after armed officials laid siege to a major telecommunications office.

Operatives from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) stormed the premises of IHS Towers in the Wuse 2 district. Eyewitnesses describe a scene of intimidation, with officers threatening to open fire.

The officers reportedly confiscated dozens of personal devices, including over 40 mobile phones, laptops, and smartwatches from terrified staff members present.

Their target was a scheduled presentation by personnel from Amnesty International. The human rights advocates were commemorating World Human Rights Day with IHS staff when the raid began.

Sources at the scene confirm that ICPC personnel immediately sealed the building, preventing anyone from entering or leaving. They effectively held the Amnesty International team hostage within the office.

At the time of this report, two Amnesty International staff members were still trapped inside the building. The operatives allegedly threatened to shoot anyone attempting to move from the conference room.

IHS Towers, a key player in Nigeria's telecom infrastructure, commenced operations in 2001. Headquartered in Lagos, the company has regional offices across the nation, including the Abuja location that was raided.

The reasons behind the commission's aggressive intrusion into a human rights event remain unclear. This incident raises serious concerns about the conduct of state agencies.