The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has condemned in its entirety the alleged brutal, unlawful raid and arrest of Nigerian students in Egyptian universities by the Egyptian police.
NANS President, Comrade Lucky Emonefe, who expressed anger over the development on Tuesday in Abuja, demanded the immediate release of all Nigerian students who the Egyptian police have unjustly detained.
The President of the Nigerian Students Union in the Arab Republic of Egypt, Comrade AbdulRofiu Saheed, had petitioned the NANS President, Comrade Lucky Emonefe, alleging forceful raids of Nigerian students by the Egyptian police, resulting in the arrest of people who do not have a residency permit.
In a letter dated January 27, 2024, addressed to the NANS President, Saheed described the circumstances of Nigerian students enrolled in Egyptian universities as appalling.
The letter sighted by the Nigerian Tribune read in part: “We are writing to you about the appalling circumstances that Nigerian students enrolled in Egyptian universities are now facing.
Forceful raids by the Egyptian police are resulting in the arrest of people who do not have a residency permit.
“Although the Egyptian government granted international students a one-year stay that ends on December 31st, this would not allow students to obtain a stay permit in early January because the process for issuing the permit takes more than 50 days, and they won’t allow us to start the process until the last week of December.
“Instead, they are taking advantage of this opportunity to arrest us and carelessly hold our fellow students in their cells.
“Due to inadequate treatment, a few international students passed away in their cells. The police officers refused to accept the documents that the students had provided as evidence of their being students.
“Not only do our brothers remain in their captivity for almost four weeks, but they also have our sisters, but our attempts to free them have failed; they have stated that they would be deported even if they haven’t finished their studies.
“Numerous people were picked up on their way to and from exam centres. We can’t even move freely to lecture rooms, so we’re in disarray.
“As other nations have been defending their nationals who are being held captive, we ask you to assist us.”.
In his reaction to a statement in Abuja, NANS President Emonefe called on the Egyptian authorities to put an end to the harassment and brutalization of Nigerian students in the country while ensuring that those in illegal detention are immediately released so as not to cause any diplomatic row between Nigeria and Egypt.
He said, “The students who are currently subjected to various forms of harassment and incarceration by the police were alleged to have an expired residence permit despite providing evidence of their application for renewal and their ongoing process with the relevant authorities.”.
According to him, this act by the Egyptian police was not only a violation of the rights of Nigerian students but also a disregard for diplomatic protocols and international norms.
He called on the Nigerian government to intervene and ensure the safety and well-being of its citizens studying in Egypt.
Emonefe said it was disheartening to see Nigerian students, who have travelled to Egypt for educational purposes, being subjected to such mistreatment.
“Education should be a platform for fostering international cooperation and understanding, not a reason for discrimination and harassment.”
“We urge the Egyptian government to thoroughly investigate this incident and hold those responsible for the unlawful raid accountable.
We also call on the Nigerian government to engage in diplomatic dialogue with Egypt to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.
“The National Association of Nigerian Students stands in solidarity with the affected students and will continue to advocate for their rights and welfare.
“We will work tirelessly to ensure that Nigerian students studying abroad are protected and treated with dignity,” Emonefe stated.
He further called on all relevant international organisations, human rights groups, and the international community to join us in condemning this act and demanding justice for the affected Nigerian students.
“Together, we can create a world where every student can pursue their education without fear of discrimination or harassment,” he added.