Yesterday my attention was drawn to the far North-Central zone of Nigeria, Nasarawa State Polytechnic, Lafia, precisely. It was reported to the office of the Vice President SOUTH-SOUTH, National Association of University Students that on Tuesday 26 July, 2016 a student of the said institution was knocked down by a careless driver.
On Wednesday, 27 July, 2016, the students of the institution went on a peaceful demonstration calling on the state Government to put bombs on the road to checkmate speed limit of drivers since the road is a highway. It is also on record that that was not the first time students have been involved in accidents on the same road as a result of speed and that they had been calling on the Governments and the school management to aide them put booms and road signs to help motorists checkmate their speed limit at that point.
It is rather very unfortunate that no one came to address the aggrieved students who were in sorrow and tears over the lost of their colleague, instead the police were deployed to the venue of the protest who shot and killed two students adding more pains to the students community and the school at the moment has been closed down indefinitely till further notice.
My Take:
First and foremost on behalf of, my self NAUS SOUTH-SOUTH ZONE, and the entire students community at large, I empathize with the students who have lost their lives as a result of the protest. I pray the Good Lord to grant them eternal rest.
Last time I spoke on this during the UNIPORT CRISES, I made known that "each time we lost a student, the students' community suffers a great set back". This time I think it as become an issue of national interest and requires urgent intervention. When I said that "Nigerian police are incompetent of managing crisis and should be trained on how to". I received cautions from members of the public advising me to be careful of what I say about men of the Nigerian police to avoid being victimized. I also had a few threatening calls which I didn't take it seriously because I saw it as just empty threats. Again I want to say that I made the statement not on bias grounds but on the premise of unlawful killing of innocent and unarmed student protesters. And I stand to affirm that they are INCOMPETENT of managing crises.
On the note, the Leadership of the National Association of University Students (NAUS) demands justice for the killed students. The killer should be brought to book. Also we call on the National Assembly to make laws protecting the fundamental rights of innocent and unarmed protesters especially students and finally, I want to advise the students to vacate the school environments and remain peaceful not to take laws in to their hands.
Signed
Comrade Ini-obong Uko
VICE PRESIDENT (SOUTH-SOUTH)
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS (NAUS)
28/07/2016
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