The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) President, Aruna Kadiri has visited Turkey to facilitate the release of some Nigerian students over the recent reported unfortunate arrest of some students upon arrival at Ataturk International Airport in Istanbul, Turkey.
Some weeks ago according to our local media, over 50 Nigerian students were arrested in Turkey, allegedly on the order of the government. The detained Nigerians are mainly students of Fathi University, one of 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, the apex umbrella of Nigerian students both home and abroad following the incident condemned in totality the action of the Turkish government, and shut-down their Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria as they failed to release its detained members unconditionally.
Comr. Kadiri who arrived Turkey on Thursday October 20th alongside other 2 contigents and a Nigerian journalist said the trip was a continuous struggle he led to Turkey Embassy in Abuja on the 6th of October, immediately after the inauguration of NANS national officials demanding clarification on the arrest of the affected Nigerian students.
Upon getting to Istanbul on the early hours of Thursday, they were taken round some of the schools were they met with managements of some of the universities and our Nigerian students respectively.
Also, while in the country, they held series of meetings and were told by both management and our Nigerian students that after the failed coup in Turkey the Government decided to shut down fifteen (15) Universities suspected to be owned by the opposition group who masterminded the failed coup.
The closure affected several nationalities including Nigerians schooling in Turkey. However, the Government has absolved all the students into various schools of their choice without any additional charges. All of these was confirmed by our students.
Funny enough the story of the over 50 Nigerian students arrested is like a home video to most of them. They insisted that nothing of such ever happened. In fact, the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria confirmed that only four (4) post-graduate students (PhD) were arrested for questioning after which the Turkish government have decided to depot them. But upon NANS President intervention, who made it clear to both Ambassador Hakan Çakıl, and the host government that it will be a slap to his country if they were deported, insisting that they should be released and allowed to resume their normal schooling. This they did immediately and as we speak, the affected students are back to school.
Apart from all these, two students who were living in the apartment of the suspected coup plotters are still in detention but we are talking seriously with the Turkish government for their release and we can assure you that within a couple of days they will be released.
Comr. Victory Ogolo, former NANS VP on External Affairs and presently Chairman advisory Council, was also in the NANS President' entourage. After the national assignment, they returned back to the country on Saturday 22nd of October.
The NANS President, Comr. Aruna Kadiri of Uniben, being the 28th president of the association was elected in the rescheduled convention held between 1st-4th September 2016 in Old Parade Ground, Garki Abuja.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria
God bless the National Association of Nigerian Students
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