NAPS fumes as police carry out night raid on hostel, arrests students in Anambra
The Special Anti-Cultism Squad (SACS), formerly known as the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), have raided a students’ hostel in the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State.
According to reports, SACS officers raided the hostel late on Wednesday night which resulted in the arrest of several students. The students were said to be sleeping in their lodges when the officers raided their hostels, broke into their rooms, and arrested them, accusing them of theft.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) Vice President, South East Zone, the students’ union condemned the arrest.
NAPS also urged the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, to warn the errant officers to stop harassing their students, or else they would shut down the state with massive protest.
They cautioned the errant officers to respect the rights and dignity of students and to cease all forms of breaking into students’ lodges at odd hours, as well as the harassment and intimidation of students.
The statement reads: “National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), the umbrella body of all polytechnics, monotechnics, colleges of technology, health, and other allied institutions awarding ND and HND certificates, with a membership strength of 20.1 million students across the federation.
“We are writing to express our strong condemnation of the unwarranted arrests and intimidation of our dear students of Federal Polytechnic Oko.
“These arrests, which often occur at odd hours of the night (11 pm2 am), are totally unacceptable to the leadership of NAPS South East Zone and must stop immediately.
“We urge you to respect the rights and dignity of our students and to cease all forms of breaking into students’ lodges at odd hours, harassment, and intimidation of our dear students.
“Sir, we are putting you on notice that if these unwarranted arrests and intimidation do not stop, we will be forced to take drastic measures, including a massive shutdown/protest, where several journalists, TV stations, and media will be involved.
“We cannot stand idly by while our students are harassed and intimidated unjustly. We demand that you respect our rights and dignity as students and citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We hope you will take our demands seriously and put an end to these unwarranted arrests and intimidations.”
