TakeItBack Movement Condemns Ogun Students' Extortion, Arrest By Nigerian Army Personnel
A pro-democracy group, TakeItBack Movement, has condemned the oppressive actions of the Nigerian Army personnel against students of the Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED) located in Ijagun, Ogun State.
TASUED students, who were being extorted and harassed by the military operatives, were reportedly arrested and detained when they took to streets to protest.
The TakeItBack Movement described the military action as a heinous act which infringed on the human rights of these learners, while calling on the state government and other stakeholders to wade in.
These were contained in a statement by the students’ wing of the group, signed by its National Coordinator, Damilare Adenola, which was made available to SaharaReporters on Friday.
The statement reads, "The attention of the TakeItBack Movement has been drawn to the heinous and draconian actions of armed-military men on the peace loving students of Tai Solarin University of Education.
"With dismay, we received the news about how the peaceful and law abiding students of TASUED who were going about their daily activities were not only extorted in broad day light but were also unjustly exploited by unruly and unconscionable military men.
"We also have it that in the heat of the act committed by these evil men, the students of TASUED took to the streets where some of the students were illegally arrested and unconstitutionally detained by these same unruly military men.
BREAKING VIDEO: Nigerian Military Deploy 3 Armored Tanks, Two Hilux Vehicles Filled With Soldiers To Scene Of Ongoing Demonstration By Students Of Tai Solarin University Of Education Protesting Military Invasion, Brutalisation and Extortion pic.twitter.com/68nrokQNWZ
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) October 29, 2021
"It must be understood that you cannot beat a child and expect that the child does not cry. The students came out to show their displeasure as regards the broad day light extortion and exploitation of exorbitant fees and undue clampdown by the military men.
"The movement finds it offensive and more of a gross violation and encroachment on the rights of the students to move freely as contained under section 41, CFRN and to freely speak their minds in public gatherings as safely guaranteed under the sections of 39 & 40, CFRN.
"That military men will unduly and unruly clamp down and exploit students is a pointer that we are in a full blown Hitler regime. We cannot continue to live in the Hobbesian state where life was solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short; for goodness sake, this is supposed to be a democracy.
"The movement is not only in support of the resolution of the students’ union but it has also held that if this unconscionable act by the military men on the students continues, it will not hesitate to organise students of the wing on logical and social grounds to combat such act to a standstill through civil mass action.
"In addition, we call on the Ogun State Government, the Ministry of Education and other appropriate government quarters to put a stop to the oppression of students in the state.”
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