“Don’t Tarnish Our Image” – NANS Slams Osun Police Over Arrest Of ‘Comrades’

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Southwest Zone D, has tackled the Osun State Police Command following the recent arrest of four individuals allegedly found with firearms, cutlasses and charms while reportedly using a vehicle bearing a NANS-branded plate number.

Recall that last week the Osun Police arrested four gunrunners along the Osogbo/Ilesa road while transporting ammunition in a private car with the plate number of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).

It was learnt that the suspects were arrested on Tuesday by the Commissioner of Police’s surveillance squad during a ‘stop-and-search’ operation.

The Commissioner of Police (CP) Ibrahim Gotan explained that one Kehinde Adewale, 25, Ayuba Adebayo, 22, Abeeb Olasupo, 23 and Mustapha Adeniyi, 21, were arrested around 8:30pm while travelling along Ilesa/Osogbo road.

He said: “They were intercepted in a Toyota Camry marked ‘Presidency NANS 27ZD driven by Adewale with three other occupants.”

He said “the suspect claimed that they are students. When my men searched thoroughly, an English Beretta pistol and two empty magazines which were carefully concealed in a box inside the vehicle were recovered alongside a cutlass and some criminal charms.”

He added that the investigation revealed that they have been terrorising Ilesa/Osu communities and their environs.

However, while reacting in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday, the Coordinator of NANS Southwest Zone D, Comrade Owolewa Taiwo, accused the police of deliberately dragging the name of the student body into disrepute without proper investigation.

He maintained that while the association does not deny the possibility of one or more of the suspects being students, it is irresponsible for the police to hastily link the entire NANS structure to the incident.

“We are not here to deny the obvious. It is possible that one or more of the individuals involved may be students or members of our association. But let it be clear that one misled student does not represent the ideals of NANS, just as one rogue officer does not represent the entirety of the Nigeria Police Force,” he said.

He expressed displeasure over what he described as “media theatrics” by the police, accusing them of publicly posting and circulating images of the vehicle bearing a NANS plate number without context or concrete evidence.

Owolewa recalled a previous incident in Osogbo where a police officer allegedly hijacked a vehicle from a NANS member and drove off.

“Despite the gravity of that event, we did not run to the press to generalise or defame the police. We expect the same level of maturity and professionalism from the Nigeria Police,” he said.

Also speaking, the General Secretary of the Zone, Comrade Oluwole Olutunde, condemned what he termed a reckless attempt to associate NANS with criminality, describing such moves as defamatory and dangerous.

“We consider the actions of the Osun Police Command as a deliberate effort to smear the reputation of NANS. This is unacceptable and we will not fold our arms while our name is dragged in the mud,” he declared.

The student body reiterated that it stands firmly against all forms of violence, cultism, and criminality, insisting that its name and identity represent leadership, education, and lawful advocacy.

The association, however, expressed willingness to work with security agencies to unravel the truth behind the incident but warned against further attempts to malign its reputation without due process.

“We believe in collaboration with the Nigeria Police to build a safer society. But that cooperation must be rooted in mutual respect, fairness and truth. We will not hesitate to defend the integrity of NANS using all legal and moral means,” the statement concluded.

The press release was signed by the Coordinator, Comrade Owolewa Taiwo; the General Secretary, Comrade Oluwole Olutunde; and broadcasted by the Zonal Public Relations Officer, Comrade Kuku Isaiah Eromidayo.