The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has appealed to Nigerians to collaborate with it towards fostering a “spirit of cooperation and mutual respect” with the security operatives rather than embracing collective hostility against them.
With particular reference to personnel of the Army and police, the Nigerian students specifically advocated for constructive and peaceful means through which grievances would be resolved without necessarily resulting into violent attacks between security operatives and the civil populace.
NANS’ Senate President and Clerk of the Senate, Comrades Henry Okunomo and Abdul-Yekinn Odunayo made the appeal in a press conference on Thursday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
The students’ leaders said the appeal becomes necessary in view of recent report that 154 personnel from the military and police were killed by non-state actors between March 2023 and March 2024.
Citing the gruesome killings of 17 military personnel by civilians in the Okuama Community in Delta State in March this year, the umbrella body of students in the country said students were deeply troubled to see personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces being subjected to violence and hostility from the very people they swore to protect.
While condemning the trend, NANS however, advocated that the army authorities and the police should without further delay, evolve a measure that will make their operatives to completely keep off civil matters.
They mentioned such as land disputes, debt recovery, and abuse of students, among others, stressing restraining from such would make the operatives accountable to human rights, as well as restoring public trust, confidence and cooperation.
“We understand that there are instances where frustrations may arise due to perceived or actual misconduct by some security personnel. However, resorting to violence is not the solution. Attacks on security operatives undermine the rule of law, disrupt societal harmony and create an environment of fear and instability,” NANS said.
They added, “We have witnessed with regret, the involvement of military and police officers in civil matters, but NANS under the able leadership of Comrade Pedro Obi is appealing to all Nigerians to be committed to building a community where security operatives and residents coexist peacefully and work collaboratively towards a common goal of a safe, secure, and prosperous society for all”.
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