By Adesina Quadri Ademola
The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Southwest Zone D, has responded to the recent arrest by the Osun State Police Command of four individuals allegedly found with firearms, cutlasses, and charms in a vehicle bearing NANS identification. The student body has firmly denounced what it described as an attempt to malign the image of the organization without proper investigation.
In a statement jointly signed by the Zone D Coordinator, Comrade Owolewa Taiwo S., and the General Secretary, Comrade Oluwole Olutunde A., the association acknowledged that it is possible that one or more of the individuals arrested may have ties to the student body. However, the leadership cautioned against generalizing the actions of a few to an entire institution.
“We are not here to deny the obvious,” the statement read. “But just as one rogue police officer does not represent the entire force, one misled student cannot be used to define NANS. Recklessly tagging suspects as NANS members without proper verification is not only irresponsible, it is defamatory and dangerous.”
The association also drew attention to a prior incident in Osogbo where a police officer allegedly hijacked a vehicle belonging to a NANS member. The leadership noted that, despite the seriousness of that case, NANS refrained from condemning the entire Nigeria Police Force, instead urging discretion and due process—an approach they now expect in return.
NANS Zone D criticized the police for publicizing the arrest alongside photos of the branded vehicle without full context, describing the move as “media theatrics” and “a deliberate attempt to defame our organization.”
“We will not tolerate the careless dragging of the name of the largest student body in Africa through the mud,” the statement emphasized. “Our identity stands for leadership and learning, not lawlessness.”
Reaffirming its commitment to law and order, the association stated categorically that it does not condone crime, cultism, or any form of violence. It reiterated its openness to collaborate with law enforcement agencies to uncover the full facts surrounding the incident, while defending the integrity of the association against what it termed “irresponsible public narratives.”
In conclusion, the student body called on the police, media, and general public to “investigate thoroughly, speak responsibly, and act fairly.”
