The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), South-West Zone D, has announced plans to suspend academic activities across tertiary institutions in Osun State over rising security concerns ahead of the state’s governorship election.
In a statement issued on Monday and jointly signed by Coordinator Adeyemo Josiah, Secretary-General Ojetola Babatunde and Public Relations Officer Tope Olugbemi, the association cited increasing incidents of political violence, shootings, intimidation and politically related killings as reasons for the planned action.
NANS said the worsening security situation no longer guarantees the safety of students, noting that reports of gunshots in communities surrounding some tertiary institutions, particularly at night, have heightened fear among students living both on and off campus.
The association also expressed concern over the absence of a comprehensive security plan to protect campuses, student hostels, surrounding communities and major transport routes during the election period. It said its Joint Campus Council officials, Students’ Union Governments and other stakeholders had been placed on alert ahead of the proposed shutdown.
According to NANS, students should prepare to return home peacefully until normalcy is restored. However, it said the date, duration and operational details of the shutdown would be announced later through its official communication channels.
While reaffirming students’ constitutional right to vote and participate in the electoral process, the association warned politicians against using undergraduates for electoral purposes or exposing them to violence. It urged students to vote based on competence and credibility rather than intimidation or inducement.
NANS also advised students not to share sensitive personal information with unknown individuals or board unmarked vehicles operated by unverified persons during the election period.
The student body insisted that the planned shutdown is not politically motivated but aimed solely at protecting lives. It warned political parties and their supporters to keep violence away from campuses and urged students to avoid participating in violent activities.
The association called on Governor Ademola Adeleke, security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), heads of tertiary institutions, traditional rulers, religious leaders and civil society organisations to take urgent steps to guarantee the safety of students.
It maintained that academic activities would remain suspended until authorities engage student leaders and provide credible security assurances, declaring that the safety of Nigerian students “is not negotiable.”
