By Ogene Romanus Chizoba
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), South-East Zone (Zone F), has unveiled plans for a large-scale mobilisation of students across the region, directing thousands of its members to converge on Awka, the Anambra State capital, in protest over the continued detention of student leaders.
In a strongly worded directive issued by the South-East Zonal Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Ikechukwu, the apex student body announced that it was relocating its zonal struggle to Anambra State, declaring Awka the temporary operational headquarters of the movement until its demands are met.
The decision follows a national directive from the NANS Senate President, Distinguished Senator Ibeabuchi Moses Onyia (IBB), with the zonal leadership insisting that all peaceful efforts to secure the release of the detained student leaders had failed.
According to the statement, NANS accused judicial authorities of frustrating attempts at dialogue and amicable settlement, alleging that student leaders have been subjected to intimidation, harassment and what it described as judicial oppression.
Declaring that "the die is cast," the organisation said diplomacy had reached its limit and announced the commencement of "Operation Total Relocation," a coordinated regional mobilisation involving students from Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States.
As part of the directive, all Joint Campus Committee (JCC) Chairmen and Students' Union Government (SUG) Presidents in the South-East have been instructed to immediately activate their mobilisation networks. Student leaders from Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States were specifically directed to relocate to Awka, where the association plans to stage sustained demonstrations.
The Anambra State JCC and institutional SUG leadership have also been tasked with coordinating logistics, securing protest grounds and making adequate preparations ahead of the arrival of students from across the region.
NANS stated that the planned action would continue indefinitely until its detained members are released unconditionally and its demands are addressed.
While describing the planned demonstration as a lawful exercise of constitutional rights, the association urged security agencies to act professionally and refrain from any attempt to intimidate peaceful protesters.
The statement warned that any further action against its members could trigger a broader regional response, insisting that the student movement would remain united in defending the rights and welfare of Nigerian students.
The development signals a possible escalation of the dispute, with the planned convergence expected to draw student activists from institutions across the South-East. If fully implemented, the action could significantly disrupt academic, commercial and public activities in Awka as the city prepares for what may become one of the region's most coordinated student protests in recent years.
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| Ogene Romanus Chizoba |
