NANS seeks police help to protect students on campuses
The National Association of Nigerian Students has sought partnership with the Nigeria Police Force to protect students’ rights on campuses across the nation.
The Edo State Joint Campus Council of NANS, led by its Chairman, Daniel Omuokhonlen, disclosed this on Thursday during a visit to the state police command.
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Omuokhonlen described the call as part of its advocacy efforts to make campus life safe and secure for students across the state and tertiary institutions nationwide.
“NANS calls for a strengthened partnership and collaboration between the students’ body and the NPF,” he said in a release by his Office, adding that, “I believe the existing relationship had broken down if not, some of the cases we see and hear daily involving our students and the police ordinarily would not happen.”
Omuokhonlen lamented the experience students go through in the hands of law enforcement agents who are meant to protect them.
He said, “That is why we are here. Our primary concern is the protection of students’ rights, particularly in instances where they may be unfairly targeted, bullied or intimidated by their mates using police hierarchy, or harassed during operations such as the ‘stop and search’.”
He, therefore, proposed a collaborative partnership centring on addressing police harassment, investigating petitions, policy dialogue and advocacy.
He maintained that no student would be subjected to unjust treatment or violence under his leadership, noting that the apex national student body prioritises the advocation of students’ rights.
“It is unacceptable that students are required to pay fees for their petitions to be filed, signed, or investigated. We want a fair and accessible system where students can submit petitions without financial barriers and trust that their concerns will be taken seriously and investigated promptly,” he added.
Omuokhonlen, however, called for the establishment of accessible communication channels for students to report incidents to the police and seek assistance, saying, “Toll-free numbers, dedicated email addresses, and other contact details should be provided to ensure that students can easily reach out to the command for support and assistance.”
The student body who were received by the state Commissioner of Police, CP Funsho Adegboye, described the visit as “timely” as he had looked forward to meeting with student leaders in the state since he assumed office.
The CP who welcomed the collaboration from the NANS leaders approved the release of a phone line 07037376464 for students in the state to report cases of police harassment and other issues related to the state Force directly to his office.
