The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has declared that it would stage a peaceful protest on Democracy Day, June 12, amidst killings and kidnappings of students owing to the spate of insecurity in the country.
According to The PUNCH, the association made the declaration on Tuesday via its President, Sunday Asefon, who spoke to journalists in Ado Ekiti.
Asefon’s comment comes at the heels of the recent abduction of at least over 200 students of Islamiyya School in Rafi Council area of Niger State.
As a sign of support for the victims, Asefon said that the students association had relocated its national headquarters to the North Central State pending when the abducted students would be released.
He said: “Nigerians have to come together to see what can be done on the issue of insecurity”.
“I hereby declare 11th June as the national students’ day of prayers. Prayers shall be offered for the repose of our students who have died in the hands of kidnappers. Prayers shall be held for the safe return of our students who are still with their kidnappers.
“I hereby declare June 12, 2021, as the National Day of Peaceful Protest to call on the government to act decisively towards addressing insecurity in our schools, campuses and also announce a proactive measure or strategy towards ensuring safer schools.”
The NANS president added that “What are we celebrating as democracy when many of our students are in kidnappers’ den?
“What are we celebrating when people are not at peace, when insecurity is threatening our existence when killings and banditry are the order of the day? Democracy is about people, but what are we celebrating as democracy day when the people are being killed?”
