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The leadership of National Association of Nigerian Students has threatened a showdown with citizens of Benin Republic in Nigeria over the refusal of the Beninoise government to release two Nigerians “illegally arrested” at Igbokofi area of Ogun State.
Pastor Kunle Gab was arrested alongside his interpreter, Benjamin Amosu, by Gendarmes (Benin Republic Police) for resisting encroachment on Nigerian borders.
Garb was reportedly arrested in a gestapo style in Igbokofi, Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State.
Consequently, the Ogun Chapter of NANS said it is “bewildered by the disconcerting silence of the Federal Government over the plight of Yewa North and Imeko/Afon people in Ogun State.”
The students body recalled that “the people of the Yewa North and Imeko/Afon have been subjected to various degrees of inhuman treatments, ranging from incessant attacks from herdsmen, destruction of farmlands and harvests by herds of cow, endless cases of kidnapping and recently, the attempted subjugation and annexation of part of Nigeria landmass by the Benin Republic and unlawful arrest of activists by Gendarmes (Benin Republic Police).”
Ogun NANS Chairman, Damilola Simeon, told DAILY POST in a statement on Monday that “the herdsmen attacks turned thousands of Yewa residents to refugees in Benin Republic, thereby exposing them to extreme poverty, acute hunger and lack of access to basic amenities.”
Simeon said, “Things have, however, taken even worse dimension following the recent acts of encroachment into Nigerian lands by Benin Republic and subsequent resistance by the people of Yewa North and Imeko/Afon. The resistance spearheaded by Kunle Garb have culminated into his gestapo-style arrest and that of his interpreter, Benjamin Amosu by Gendarmes (Benin Republic Police).
“The most disturbing in all of these is the continual silence and the aura of nonchalance emanating from the Federal Government as regards these horrendous developments.
“This indifference, apathy and disinterestedness being communicated by the Federal Government points towards the Federal Government as an abettor.
“We, therefore, urge the Federal Governent to as a matter of urgency, utilize every diplomatic tools in their arsenal to secure the unconditional release of Kunle Garb and Benjamin Amosu and forestall further attacks and encoachment within the borders of Nigeria.
“Failure to do this will leave the National Association of Nigerian Students with no choice other than to mobilize against every Beninoise in Ogun State and their businesses. In addition, every operations of Benin Republic in Ogun will be shut down indefinitely
“In the same vein, every state and federal legislator representing Yewa generally should wake up to their constitutional duties and protect their constituency and constituents in their own best interest.
“The likes of ( ), . (, / ), . (, ), . (, /), . (, ), . (, ), . (, /) . . (, ) should speedily fashion out a way to permanently emancipate their constituents or risk the wrath of the over 2.1 Million Nigerian Students in Ogun State.
“Furthermore, the slumbering Nigeria Boundary Commission should earn its wages by wading into the worrisome boundary dispute between Nigeria and Benin Republic instead of leaving it in the hands of helpless civilians.
“Finally, the preservation of National Unity remains the fundamental obligation of every citizen, consequently, we should all play our parts thoroughly,” NANS maintained
