The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students has denied allegations that it was planning a nationwide blockade of major cities in the country.
NANS said it did not announce or endorse such a protest, describing the allegations as baseless.
In a statement by the association’s Senate President, Akinteye Babatunde, on Tuesday, NANS said the allegations do not reflect the position or intentions of our organization.
The statement read: “The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has been made aware of rumors and false information circulating on various platforms, suggesting that NANS is planning a mass blockade of major cities in the country.
“We want to state categorically that NANS has neither announced nor approved such a protest. These reports are completely unfounded and do not reflect the position or intentions of our organization.
The statement said: “As a body representing the interests of Nigerian students, we have always been committed to peacefully advocating and constructively interacting with relevant stakeholders.
“We understand the critical importance of maintaining peace and stability in our nation, especially in these trying times. Any action that may lead to civil unrest or disruption of public order is not and will never be supported by NANS.
He asked the public to ignore these accusations, emphasizing that the people behind these accusations are anonymous.
“We strongly urge the public, the media and all interested parties to ignore this false information. The individuals or groups behind these rumors are anonymous entities seeking to exploit the NANS name for malicious purposes. “Their goal is clear: to destabilize the country and create unnecessary tensions between citizens. We categorically distance ourselves from any such plans or intentions.
“We are sending the security agencies to launch a full investigation on the origin of this disinformation. It is imperative that those responsible for spreading these lies are identified and held accountable. The use of the NANS name to spread such accusations is dangerous and without foundation poses not only a threat to national security, but also a serious harm to millions of students who are genuinely seeking positive change through legitimate means.”
“We call on the security agencies to act decisively to arrest any individual or group that tries to use the NANS name to incite unrest or disturb the peace of our nation. We must collectively ensure that the integrity of our democratic processes and the rule of law are respected at all times.
“NANS remains steadfast in its mission to protect the rights and welfare of Nigerian students. We will continue to pursue this mission through peaceful, legal and constructive means. Let it be known that NANS firmly stands for peace, progress and unity of our nation.
“We appreciate the continued support of Nigerian students and the public and encourage everyone to remain vigilant and not fall prey to those who seek to manipulate and deceive for their own selfish gains,” the statement added.
