Security Operatives Harassment: The Many Pains Of Nigerian Students

By LOVETH AZODO, Lagos

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on the Federal Government to demonstrate strong will to ensure that security officials are punished whenever they oppress and intimidate a Nigerian student so as to serve as deterrents to others.

Coordinator-Elect, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Kappo Samuel Olawale (KAPPO) who decried the numerous challenges faced by Nigerian Students in a press conference held recently at the Lagos State University (LASU) stated that the association will continue to frown at the harassment and victimization of Nigerian Students and will not hesitate to lead a mass action at any point against any security institution found perpetrating this illegality.

According to the former president of LASU Students’ Union, Kappo, the security operatives that are saddled with the responsibility of protecting the Nigerian Students have turned from being our saviors to be their oppressors and intimidators. “They have continued to use their uniform and weapon to harass and victimize the Nigerian Students illegally.”

“We have several stories and instances of how SARS officials under the Nigeria Police Force victimize and harass our constituents across Southwest. They have gone as far as invading our campuses to perpetrate their evil and illegality as harassing citizens of the nation is not part of their standard operational practice.”

“We also have instances of how trigger happy officers fire at Nigerian Students in the process of demanding for their rights through peaceful, meaningful and organized mass protest. Happening in Federal University Oye Ekiti (FUOYE) is still very fresh in our memory. Several account of police brutality, unlawful arrest and detention of Nigerian Students are also on records,” he lamented.

On Increment in tuition fees, he said “Increment on fee up to one hundred percentage is not seen as an adversity that is fast turning into a menace but a normal and justified decision to take and implement. Institutions in furtherance to commercializing education at intervals introduce undue charges to exploit the Nigerian Students.”

Olawale called on the concerned parties to desist from hike in tuition fee of institutions and also put a stop to payment of undue and exploitative charges levied on Nigerian Students. “We equally call on Government at all levels to implement the recommendation of UNESCO to budget 26% of the total budget of the nation for Education,” he said.

Furthermore, on proscription of Students’ Union Government (SUGs), he decried and expressed his disappointment towards the lack of students representative body in some of the South West geopolitical zone such as U.I, UNILAG, YABATECH, OAU, GAPOSA and Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti to mention but a few.

“As an advocate of a globally recognized teaching and research focused tertiary institutions that provides equal opportunities for students to thrive, we demand the immediate restoration of SUGs across the affected campuses. We seek the assistance of Government at all levels to help see to the restoration of our SUGs as they are pivotal to reposing the mandate of the Nigerian Students in our dear organization,” he said.

He vowed that his administration will ensure qualitative welfare plans for Nigerian student, organise programs and activities, intensify critical relationship with government.

“We will give priority to leadership development and entrepreneurship to equip our students with skills that can make them independent and self sufficient. We will also engage in partnership with leading organizations across our region to secure internship placements for Nigerian Students and employment through career fairs.”

“Our administration will organize life changing, developmental programs and also engage in activities that will contribute to the capacity building of Nigerian Students,” he promised.

National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) is the umbrella and the apex students body that represents students of Nigerian origin home and abroad. The Association is saddled with the responsibility of agitating the course of the students: ensuring qualitative and affordable education and adequate welfarism for Nigerian students.