The National Association of Nigerian Students has urged President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency on insecurity across the country.
In a statement released on Friday by its Senate President, Usman Nagwaza, NANS also called on the President to give maximum support to the Ministry of Defence by equipping the armed forces to step up efforts against criminals terrorising Nigerians.
“NANS does not represent barbarism or criminality. Our concern is Nigeria, especially students, who are directly affected by insecurity.
“We also call on the President to declare a state of emergency on insecurity and further empower the armed forces to intensify operations against criminal elements across the country.
“NANS appealed to Nigerians to rally behind the Ministry of Defence and reject what it termed the politics of character assassination, stressing that such actions undermine national efforts to restore peace and stability,” the statement read.
On allegations linking the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to banditry, NANS dismissed them as politically motivated and without merit.
The student organisation emphasised that Matawalle was being unfairly targeted at a time when national unity was crucial to tackling escalating insecurity.
Meanwhile, the government has continued to ramp up measures to curb insecurity, deploying military and security assets to safeguard national peace.
President Tinubu recently appointed General Christopher Musa as the Minister of Defence, charging him with delivering a more coordinated national security strategy.
The administration also highlighted that it has refurbished over 100 armoured fighting vehicles and plans to acquire advanced equipment, including drones and mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles, to strengthen the operational capacity of the armed forces.
