The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has cautioned against calls for a statewide strike and mass protests over the recent abduction of teachers and pupils in Oyo State, warning that such actions could play into the hands of terrorists.
In a press statement signed by National President, Comrade Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, NANS said it noted with concern a recent call by the Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights, CDWR, for the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, to shut down the state.
While acknowledging the constitutional right to freedom of expression and association, NANS said “such rights should be exercised responsibly.”
“It breaks the heart to see children sent by their parents and guardians to school to study, end up as pawns and objects of negotiations in the hands of kidnappers,” the statement read. “No government worth its salt, would, especially in an election year, fold its hands and watch terrorists keep children away from their parents and loved ones.”
NANS argued that shutting down the country is “exactly what these terrorists want to achieve,” and urged Nigerians to unite against terrorism instead. The students’ body cited Israel’s response to the 2023 Hamas attacks as an example, noting that Israeli citizens rallied around their government rather than protest and disrupt the country.
“When Hamas struck Israel in 2023, killing over 1,000 of her citizens and kidnapped hundreds, Israeli citizens didn’t play into the hands of their attackers by protesting and calling on unions to shut down the country. They forgot all their differences and rallied around the government to hit back at their adversaries,” Akinteye said.
He added that Nigeria has overcome worse crises in the past, referencing the 1967-1970 civil war and the 2015 disintegration predictions, and said the country could similarly unite against terrorism in 2026.
“Tough times, they say, don’t last. It is tough people who do… If we were able unite against doomsday prediction in 2015, we can successfully unite against terrorism in 2026,” he said.
NANS, as a “critical stakeholder,” reminded that “governments will come and go. The citizens shall remain,” and urged a shift from treating terrorism as only government’s burden.
“Nigeria is a very blessed country. It is best to unite against terrorism and solve this problem once and for all,” the statement said.
The abduction of teachers and pupils in Oyo has sparked outrage nationwide, with various groups debating the best response to secure their release and prevent future attacks on schools.
