Press Release
October 03, 2016

The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, demand the immediate and unconditional release of its members who were arrested and detained some days ago upon arrival at Ataturk International Airport in Istanbul, Turkey.

NANS, the apex umbrella of Nigerian students both home and abroad condemn in totality this action of the Turkish government. We consider their arrest as a deliberate attempt to ridicule our country's hard earned image.

According to THISDAY, over 50 Nigerian students were arrested in Turkey, allegedly on the order of the government. The detained Nigerians who are mainly students of Fathi University, one of the private universities located in the metropolitan Büyükçekmece district of Istanbul, Turkey was founded in 1996 with a relatively high rate of international students from 102 countries.

We commend the Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government on the ongoing efforts towards ensuring the safety and well-being of the students whose school, Fathi University, was among the 2,099 schools shut down by the Turkish government for links with Fethullah Gulen, the alleged mastermind of the failed July 15, 2016 coup in the country.

NANS therefore call on Turkish government to honour this non-negotiable demand, as failure to adhere to this, Nigerian students led by the president, Comr. Aruna Kadiri, is set to shut down the Turkish embassy on or before Friday, October 7th, 2016.

It is instructive to state that the new leadership of NANS will continue to collaborate with government and individuals in achieving some of her objectives, but never at the expense of Nigerian students. The rights of every Nigerian student is non-negotiable.

Lastly, we call on Nigerian students to be on alert for failure to release our arrested members on the stipulated date we shall all storm Abuja in protest. AN INJURY TO ONE IS AN INJURY TO ALL. Be Your Brother's Keeper!

Aluta Continua! Victoria Acerta!!!

Signed:
Akolo Raymond Eggon, SSA on Media & Publicity To NANS President, Comr. Aruna Kadiri

Hmmmm........This won't work on the Turkish government