The National Association of Nigerian Students has strongly denounced the reported brutal and unlawful actions by Egyptian police against Nigerian students in Egyptian universities.
NANS President, Comrade Lucky Emonefe, expressed his dismay over the situation on Tuesday in Abuja and demanded the immediate release of all Nigerian students unjustly detained by the Egyptian police.
The condemnation follows a petition from the President of the Nigerian Students Union in Egypt, Comrade AbdulRofiu Saheed.
Saheed detailed the forceful raids conducted by Egyptian police, leading to the arrest of students lacking a residency permit.
In a letter dated January 27, 2024, Saheed highlighted the dire circumstances faced by Nigerian students enrolled in Egyptian universities.
Saheed’s letter, seen by the Nigerian Tribune, outlined the challenges international students face due to the Egyptian government’s one-year stay policy that ended on December 31, 2023.
Saheed asserted that the process for obtaining a stay permit takes more than 50 days, making it impossible for students to comply within the given timeframe.
Consequently, students were arrested, and some even faced inadequate treatment resulting in tragic outcomes.
NANS President Emonefe, reacting to the statement in Abuja, urged the Egyptian authorities to halt the harassment and brutalization of Nigerian students.
He emphasized the need for the immediate release of those in illegal detention to prevent a potential diplomatic row between Nigeria and Egypt.
Emonefe stated, “The students who are currently subjected to various forms of harassment and incarceration by the police were alleged to have an expired residence permit despite providing evidence of their application for renewal and their ongoing process with the relevant authorities.”
He called this action a violation of the rights of Nigerian students and a disregard for diplomatic protocols and international norms.
The NANS President called on the Nigerian government to intervene and ensure the safety and well-being of its citizens studying in Egypt.
Emonefe stressed that education should foster international cooperation and understanding, not discrimination and harassment.
He further urged the Egyptian government to investigate the incident thoroughly and hold those responsible for the unlawful raid accountable.
Emonefe also called on the international community, human rights groups, and relevant organizations to condemn the act and demand justice for the affected Nigerian students.
