June 12 Protest: NANS Backs Out Of Nationwide Protest

By Akinwale Kasali

The wind seem to have been taken out of the proposed  nationwide protest on Saturday, June 12, 2021.

Less than 24-hours to the protest by the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, the association has backed out, and suspended it.

NANS President, Sunday Asefon, in Statement today, Friday June 11, 2021, said the Association decided to suspend the protest because of the fear of a possible hijacking of the protest by Politicians.

In a statement titled, ‘NANS Suspends June 12 Protest Over Concerns About Safety Of Protesters And Fear Of Possible Hijack By Politicians, Asefon said the planned protest was aimed at decrying the insecurity in the country, especially the serial abductions of students.

However, Asefon said some politicians with “different agenda” have perfected plans to hijack the protest to “ventilate their political opinions and sentiments”.

He also added that the Students’ body was not associated with the secessionist campaign or the ‘Buhari-must-go’ slated to hold on Saturday by some politicians and activists.

“Having considered the current security realities and the danger to the lives of our members in case of possible hijack of the planned protest, I, in consultation with all the structures of NANS, therefore, announce the suspension of our proposed protest for June 12.

“The suspension of the protest is necessary to avoid a clash of interest and clash with security agencies that are on red alert to protect the nation’s infrastructure from security breaches on the proposed date as a result of many other protests slated for the date.

“We intend to protest for better security and improved welfare for our students. We must, therefore, not put the life of any of our students at risk to ventilate our grievances.”

Asefon further noted that the protest was not cancelled but postponed, adding that a new date would be announced for the demonstration.

The cancellation must come as a relief to parents and guardians who had feared for the lives of their children and wards, given that a hijack of the protest by politicians, civil rights activists and hoodlums could lead to a breakdown of the law and a clash with Security Agents.

The #EndSARS protest, meant to protest Police brutalities, which was hijacked led to the loss of many lives and the destruction of properties and businesses worth trillions of Naira.

In President Muhammadu Buhari’s interview with Arise Tv, on Thursday, he said the #EndSARS protest was aimed at overthrowing him from office.