Police warn against illegal assembly as NANS ‘relocates’ to Ekiti

The administrative machinery of the National Association of Nigerians Students (NANS) will relocate to Ado-Ekiti in response to the killing of two students of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti ((FUOYE), its National Secretary, Comrade Yusuf Farouk, has said.

The students last Tuesday protested in Oye-Ekiti over incessant power outage in the community, leading to an attack on the convoy of the governor’s wife, Erelu Fayemi, while on an empowerment and advocacy tour to engage with women in the local government.

They were said to have engaged the security operatives detailed with the governor’s wife in a clash.

Two persons were killed and several others injured. Over a dozen of vehicles were vandalised by the students.

In a statement signed and issued by Farouk, NANS called on affiliate unions, elected and active members of the organisation in Kogi, Ondo, Ekiti and Osun states to mobilise in solidarity with FUOYE students.

According to the statement, the students’ body national secretariat will be relocated to Ado-Ekiti on Sunday with a meeting fixed for FUOYE SUG executives and NANS/JCC Ekiti leadership and stakeholders.

The two-day showdown will end with a world press conference and proceeded by mother of all procession to the Government House on Tuesday.

The mapped out plan by the secretariat is to visit the school management, families of the deceased students, traditional rulers of each community, injured students at the hospital, Benin Electricity Distribution Company, Ekiti State Government, Department of State Security Service and the Police command.

The statement said: “The national secretariat notified all affiliate unions, elected and active members of the organisation in Kogi, Ondo, Ekiti and Osun to mobilise in solidarity with the oppressed students of the Federal University of Oye-Ekiti.

“Kindly note that in mourning the departed comrades and seeking justice on their behalf, no unruly attitude will be tolerated.”

The Ekiti State Police Command has warned that students should desist from unlawful assembly that can worsen the insecurity situation.

In a statement in Ado-Ekiti yesterday by its spokesman DSP Caleb Ikechukwu, the police said it has discovered through intelligence gathering that a group under the auspices of  ‘ex-graduates’ , who are not currently students of any higher institution, are moving into the state with the sole aim of fomenting and precipitating trouble over the FUOYE crisis.

“However, the police command is using this medium to warn anyone or group of person(s) against any unlawful assembly with an intent to cause breach of the peace.

“The command has the constitutional mandate to maintain law and order and also to stop or advice any gathering which it thinks may lead to the break of law and order.

“Furthermore, the police command shall deal decisively with anyone or group who takes the law into their hands. Such a person will be arrested and prosecuted accordingly, no matter how highly placed.”