The National Vice President, External Affairs, Comrade Sadiq Zango, has declared total solidarity with the directive of the Senate of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) over the continued detention of student leaders in Anambra State and joined calls for a peaceful mobilisation in Awka, the state capital on Monday, July 20.
In a July 12 statement, NANS Senate President, Ibeabuchi Moses Onyia alleged that a student leader in Anambra had been detained since July 11 following a dispute with another party which could have been “resolved amicably, through mediation, or through the ordinary and proportionate application of the law”.
According to Ibeabuchi, a magistrate in the Anambra judiciary had “used the Nigeria Police Force” to keep the student leader in detention and is reportedly “working to resist bail or impose unreasonably stringent bail conditions”.
Earlier on Friday, a follow-up statement by the NANS Senate President described the chief magistrate’s action as constituting “gross highhandedness”.
He said the NANS Senate has directed all organs, structures, and members of the Nigerian student community to proceed to Awka, the Anambra State capital on Monday, July 20 “to register, in the strongest terms, our collective displeasure over the continued and unjustified detention of our student leaders, and the gross highhandedness of the Chief Magistrate in the handling of what is, at its core, a purely civil matter.”
In a statement to Daily Sun, Zango stated that the protection of the rights, dignity, and welfare of Nigerian students remains a core responsibility of the association.
He maintained that any action affecting members of the student community must be carried out within the bounds of fairness, due process, and the rule of law.
“In view of the developments surrounding this matter, I call on all NANS structures, Student Union Governments, Joint Campus Committees, Zonal Leaderships, stakeholders, and the wider Nigerian student community to support the lawful and peaceful activities scheduled to take place in Awka, Anambra State, on Monday, 20th July, 2026, in accordance with the resolutions of the NANS Senate,” he said.
The NANS External Affairs VP urged students to conduct themselves in line with the traditions of the movement.
“This mobilisation should reflect the finest traditions of the Nigerian student movement ~ discipline, unity, responsibility, and constructive engagement. I urge every participating student to conduct themselves peacefully, respect the law, and cooperate fully with relevant authorities throughout the exercise,” Zango added.
He also called on security agencies and relevant authorities to ensure that students participating in the lawful activity are treated with professionalism and in accordance with the Constitution.
“I also respectfully call on the relevant authorities and security agencies to ensure that every Nigerian student participating in any lawful activity is treated with professionalism, respect, and in accordance with the Constitution and the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
Zango maintained that the Nigerian student movement has remained a principled voice for justice and equity.
“The Nigerian student movement has always stood as a principled voice for justice, equity, and responsible advocacy. Together, we must continue to defend these ideals through peaceful, lawful, and coordinated action,” he stated.
“May justice prevail, and may the collective interest of Nigerian students always remain paramount,” he stressed.
(The Sun)