By Adesakin Adefemi
National Association of Nigerian Students President, Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, has vowed that any future attack or act of disparagement against NANS will be met with fierce resistance, following a confrontation with members of the Take It Back Movement at a Bodija filling station in Ibadan.
Akinteye said the incident occurred earlier today after NANS leaders met with Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, to present positions and recommendations on the rescue and safe return of students and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area. The delegation was en route to Oriire to visit victims’ families and affected schools.
While refueling more than 40 vehicles in his entourage at a Conoil station in Bodija, Akinteye said a group of unruly individuals aggressively approached members of the delegation. He claimed the group was aggrieved that NANS did not join their protest.
The NANS president said he addressed students in his entourage and urged them to ignore the provocation. He explained that NANS’ immediate mandate was to proceed to Oriire and that the organization operates according to its own modus operandi as an ideology-driven body.
According to Akinteye, the situation escalated when a mob advanced toward them. He said NANS’ Aluta Forces on the ground repelled the attack. It was then, he added, that he identified the aggressors as members of the Take It Back Movement.
Akinteye stressed that NANS has a long history of protests and advocacy, but would not tolerate harassment or attempts to incite or spite members of the organization. He warned that any recurrence of today’s incident would be met with the same fierce resistance.
The NANS leader noted that shortly before the Bodija incident, NANS had joined a peaceful protest with the National Union of Teachers and the Nigeria Labour Congress Oyo State chapters. He said the lack of fracas at that event showed that NANS’ agitations and demands remain aligned with those groups.
Akinteye called on security agencies to investigate the activities of the Take It Back Movement. He said individuals should not be allowed to cause public disorder under the guise of activism.
Concluding the statement, the NANS president said he had sworn to protect the integrity of the organization. He reiterated that NANS would repel any attack or act of disparagement against it going forward.
