The National Association of Nigerian Students has declared support for the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Nigeria Union of Teachers in their joint campaign demanding the rescue of abducted students and teachers. NANS President Akinteye Babatunde made the declaration in a statement issued Thursday in Abuja, aligning the student body with ongoing advocacy efforts. He affirmed that NANS remains committed to ensuring the safe return of all captives, particularly those taken in recent school abductions across the country. Akinteye stated that the association identifies with concerns raised by the NLC and NUT over repeated attacks on educational institutions and personnel. "The safety of students and teachers must remain a national priority. NANS will continue to support every legitimate effort aimed at securing the release of those in captivity and preventing future occurrences," he said.
He warned that rising insecurity is creating fear among students and parents, threatening access to education. "Education cannot thrive in an atmosphere of fear. When students are afraid to go to school and teachers are uncertain of their safety, the future of the country is placed at risk," Akinteye added. He called for unity among stakeholders, including labour unions, parents, community leaders and security agencies, to maintain pressure on the government. The NANS president commended the NLC and NUT for drawing national attention to the plight of victims. He stressed that the campaign should remain focused on victims' welfare, not political agendas. Akinteye distanced NANS from groups he described as politically affiliated, urging that advocacy on student and teacher safety be driven by national interest. He also dismissed claims questioning his studentship, reaffirming he is a bona fide student at Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology. The Nigeria Union of Teachers has directed members to begin a nationwide strike over insecurity and the need for urgent government action.
Akinteye Babatunde calls for national unity on student abductions while distancing NANS from political groups, yet supports a strike led by unions deeply embedded in political activism. The nationwide strike by NUT members undermines his claim that the campaign should avoid partisan dynamics. If the protest is inherently political, then the line between advocacy and grandstanding becomes blurred. The focus on victim welfare risks being overshadowed by the very forces now leading the charge.
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