NANS Protests Incessant Attack, Harassment of Students by Police in Osun, Oyo, Akure

By Fisayo Oyeyinka

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on the Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris to call policemen in Osun State to order over what he described as incessant shooting, attack and harassment of students in various tertiary institutions in the state.

NAN was reacting to the recent shooting of students of Osun State University (UNIOSUN) by the police.

NAN Senate President, Comrade Salam Oyejide, the incessant attack on the students in the state is worrisome, saying that students are living in fear in the state.

Oyejide in a press statement made available to CityMirrorNews on Tuesday accused the police of extorting and threatening the students in the state under the pretence of hunting internet fraudsters known as yahoo guys.

He expressed concerns over the increase in the report of police shooting, harassment and extortion of the students by the police.

Oyejide recalled that some students were shot, harassed, assaulted in Osun, the Polytechnic Ibadan, University of Port Harcourt, Federal University of Technology, Akure, and Ekiti State University, among others.

The student activist expressed sadness on the shooting of UNIOSUN students because they refused to give room for exploitation.

“Reports getting to us is that our members can no longer walk freely most especially outside their school campus in Osun State because of constant harassment and exploitation by policemen. We are not saying that the police should not do their work but that must be done objectively and not to exploit innocent students,” he said.

Oyejide recommended policemen and other security agents in Nigeria and in Osun specifically for compulsory mental test before they are recruited and given gun.

He said: “It is barbaric, sad and unfortunate that those that are supposed to be protecting us are the ones killing us. This calls for a national concern as it appears that neither the Presidency nor Inspector General is doing something about it.

“We cannot expect students and youths in the country to be peaceful and exhibit spirit of patriotism with the kind of experience and exposure they get in their daily endeavours. For instance, killing of one’s colleague will definitely leave a terrible psychological effect in ones memory.

“It is high time the Nigeria Police Force took the bull by the horn and do the needful. Unfit officers and those who lack proper emotional intelligence like those killing students around should be dismissed.”

Oyejide appealed to the Ministry of Education and stakeholders on education and youth affairs to intervene in the matter to avoid massive and uncontrollable confrontation.

He added, “We must be reminded that there is no law in any part of the world, including Nigeria that prohibits self-defence, especially in a situation where those that should be protecting you are your killers or not doing so.

“We have consistently preached peace to our members at all levels but our security operatives should know that they have failed in their duty of protecting Nigerian students. The violent action of Nigeria’s policemen against Nigeria students is a direct mockery of the 1999 constitution of Nigeria (as amended), especially areas that has to do with security vis-a-vis fundamental human rights.”

He, however, demanded for an open prosecution of police officers involved in shooting, harassing and assaulting students.

“Policemen open prosecution will serve as a signal that Nigeria Police can be trusted and imposed with confidence to some extent,” ‎he added.