NANS to Suspend Planned Protest

The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS have said it will suspend its planned nationwide protest, scheduled for June 12. This was made known by the NANS President, Sunday Asefon, in a statement on Friday morning. Recall that NANS had earlier this month declared June 12, 2021, a day of protest. The group however stated that the suspension was necessary to avoid a clash of interest and clash with security agencies as a result of many other protests slated for the same date.

In the statement entitled, ‘NANS Suspends June 12 Protest Over Concerns About Safety Of Protesters And Fear Of Possible Hijack By Politicians – Comrade Sunday Asefon’. He noted that the planned protest was aimed at decrying the insecurity in the country, especially the serial abductions of students.

Asefon however said some politicians with “different agenda” had conceived an ulterior plan to hijack the protest to “ventilate their political opinions and sentiments”.

He added that the student’s body has no relationship with the secessionist campaign or the ‘Buhari-must-go’ campaign slated to hold on Saturday by some politicians and activists.

According to him, “Having considered the current security realities and the danger to the lives of our members in case of possible hijack of the planned protest, I in consultation with all the structures of NANS, therefore, announce the suspension of our proposed protest for June 12.

“The suspension of the protest is necessary to avoid a clash of interest and clash with security agencies that are on red alert to protect the nation’s infrastructure from security breaches on the proposed date as a result of many other protests slated for the date.

“We intend to protest for better security and improved welfare for our students, we must therefore not put the life of any of our students at risk to ventilate our grievances.”

Asefon further noted that the protest was not cancelled but postponed, adding that a new date would be announced for the demonstration.