The National Association of Nigerian Students has urged President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency on insecurity across the country, warning that worsening violence continues to threaten lives, especially those of students.
The call was contained in a statement issued on Friday, December 19, by the NANS Senate President, Usman Nagwaza.
In the statement, the student body appealed to the President to give full backing to the Ministry of Defence by strengthening the armed forces to confront criminal groups operating nationwide.
“NANS does not represent barbarism or criminality. Our concern is Nigeria, especially students, who are directly affected by insecurity,” the statement said.
It added, “We also call on the President to declare a state of emergency on insecurity and further empower the armed forces to intensify operations against criminal elements across the country.”
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NANS also urged Nigerians to support the Ministry of Defence and avoid what it described as the politics of character assassination, warning that such actions weaken collective efforts to restore peace and stability.
“NANS appealed to Nigerians to rally behind the Ministry of Defence and reject what it termed the politics of character assassination, stressing that such actions undermine national efforts to restore peace and stability,” the statement read.
Reacting to allegations linking the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to banditry, the association described the claims as unfounded and politically driven.
According to NANS, Matawalle is being unfairly targeted at a period when national unity is crucial to tackling Nigeria’s security challenges.
The association’s position comes as the federal government continues to scale up its response to insecurity, deploying military and security resources to address threats to national peace.