JUNE 12: NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIAN STUDENTS SUSPEND PLANNED NATIONWIDE PROTEST

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has suspended its planned nationwide protest slated for June 12.

Recall that last week, the NANS President had lamented the rising cases of insecurity and the effects on students who fall victims to kidnapping. He declared June 12 a day of protest across the country. This was re-echoed by a coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and human rights activists calling for a boycott of the Government’s activities.

However, in a statement on Friday signed by the NANS National President, Comrade Sunday Asefon, the planned protest has been suspended.

He said; “You will recall I had addressed a press conference in Ado Ekiti on 1st June 2021 where I had decried the growing insecurity in the country and the unfortunate development around our school and campuses resulting in the kidnapping of our students and sometimes even death.

“In the last week, I have met with the Inspector General of Police, other security agencies, held series of meetings with student leaders across the country. While everyone agreed that the context of the planned protest is genuine and we reserve the right to protest, the palpable tension surrounding the date has come under special scrutiny. Let me reiterate that our plan protest was never part of the Buhari Must Go Campaign or Secessionist Campaign, our planned protest was borne out of our genuine concerns for the safety of our students.

“However, some politicians with different agendas to ours have concluded plans to hijack the protest to ventilate their political opinions and sentiments. While every Nigerians reserve the right to their opinion and the right to protest, it will be dangerous to our members if the protest is hijacked as the security agencies have shared with us credible intelligence in this regard. When some of these political players discovered that we have seen their plans and their initial solidarity with us is fake and an avenue to use our platform to ventilate their divisive agenda, they resulted in blackmailing us with lies and fake news on their platform.’’

There is increased apprehension across most cities in Nigeria as the nation’s Democracy Day approaches.

Eons Intelligence reported on Thursday that the Yoruba Nation agitators are planning to hold ‘peaceful rallies’ across the Southwest region. The pro-Yoruba nation protesters have held rallies across Southwest states including Osun, Ogun, Ekiti, and Ondo, led by Sunday Igboho.

In anxiety of Saturday’s protest, which many have tagged the ‘Mother of all Protests’, many public events have been abruptly canceled over fears of violence. 

Credit: EONS Intelligence