We’re part of free Nnamdi Kanu Protest – NANS refutes ‘purported’ denial
The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, on Thursday refuted reports that the organization has denied involvement in the planned protest for the release of leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.
Earlier reports on Thursday quoted Olushola Oladoja, said to be the President of the association, as denying the students body’s participation in the protest while speaking to newsmen at the Federal Cooperative College in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Oladoja described reports linking the association to the proposed #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest scheduled for October 20 as false, misleading and mischievous.
However, in a statement on Thursday evening, Comrade Atiku Isah, National President of NANS, who earlier announced a programme for the association’s participation in the protest, insisted that the students are part of the exercise.
Isah’s statement, titled, ‘Refutation of the purported claim of NANS not part of protest’, claimed that the government was behind the claims that the association was not part of the protest.
The statement read, “The attention of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has been drawn to an online publication aimed at misleading concerned Nigerians who are dissatisfied with the injustice by the Nigerian government and have resolved to exercise their inalienable rights to protest to demand the immediate and unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu.
“Some touts were hired to claim to be members of our prestigious organization, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), by agents of government to disassociate themselves from the planned peaceful protest.
“We urge all well meaning Nigerians to join the protest for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. An injury to one is an injury to all. All for one and one for all.”
Isah had, while announcing the protest programme on Monday, said students would converge at the various zones before proceeding to Abuja.
“South West Zone: Students are to converge in Ekiti State and depart for Abuja on Sunday, 19th October, 2025. South East Zone: All students are to meet in Enugu. South-South Zone: The convergence point is Edo State,” he stated.