URGENT: arrest of Nigerian students
Dear Comrade
A number of student activists have been arrested in Nigeria and badly
beaten. They are still being held. Below we are sending you an account of
what has happened (LETTER FROM NIGERIA).
We need to send off immediately letters of protest, e-mails, etc., to the
Nigerian authorities in as many countries as possible. We should try and
get MPs, Trade Union leaders, etc., to send protests to the Nigerian
embassies or High Commissions.
We should get as many letters from significant organisations and
individuals. We are listing below the e-mail addresses and fax numbers of
some Nigerian newspapers you can write to and direct letters to:
THE GUARDIAN letters@ngrguardiannews.com and fax: ++ 234 1 4528522
VANGUARD vanguard@linkserve.com.ng or vanguard@nova.net.ng
THE PUNCH editorial@punch.com.ng and fax: ++ 234 1 4920205, 4972816
CONCORD fax: ++ 234 1 4960095
THIS DAY thisday@linkserve.com.ng and fax: ++ 234 1 4937779
THE POST EXPRESS rozu@aol.com and fax: ++ 234 1 5453436
The letters should refer to the arrests. They were reported in the
Nigerian newspaper, The Punch.
The wording should refer to the fact that Nigeria is preparing for a
transition to a parliamentary democracy, in this process many of the
people detained in the past have been freed, such as the trade union
leaders, etc., but that this arrest of students protesting legitimately
against the increase in school fees, is an indication that they are not
serious about the implementation of genuine democracy.
We should explain that we will raise the question in the labour movement,
in the student organisations and in the parties we are involved in, in the
colleges or workplaces we work in or study in.
We should demand the immediate release of the students involved and that
they should be treated in a humnanitarian way.
The students will also need Financial Aid, as they will need it while in
prison. For example you do not get fed in Nigerian prisons. below you will
find the details.
Letters demanding the release of the students IN BRITAIN should also be
sent to:
Nigerian High Commission,
Nigeria House,
9 Northumberland Avenue
London WC2N 5BX
Tel: 0171 839 1244
or 0171 839 8746
and letters bringing the case to the attention of the Labour government,
asking it to protest to the Nigerian government about the arrests, should
be addressed to
Right Honourable Robin Cook MP,
Foreign Secretary,
Foreign and Commonwealth Office,
King Charles Street,
London SW1A 2AH
(NOTE: in other countries you should send letters of protest to the
relevant embassies in)
WE NEED TO RAISE MONEY FOR THESE NIGERIAN STUDENTS!
In Britain we are launching a ?Nigerian Legal Defence Fundą where we would
direct money given to help the Nigerian students. They will possibly be
incurring legal costs if they are put on trial, and while they are in
prison they also need money. The campaign in Nigeria itself will also
involve extra expenditure. You must realise that these students are in
dire straits as far as money is concerned and they need every penny,
dollar, yen... we can raise.
We should approach individuals and labour movement bodies for donations.
Cheques should be made payable to the ?Nigerian Legal Defence Fundą and
sent to PO Box 6977, London N1 3JN, England.
Payments can also be made into our special account with the Girobank (The
Post Office) in the United Kingodm
The account name is: Nigerian Legal Defence Fund
The account number is: 38 332 3282
With a paying in slip payments can be made at any post office.
LETTER FROM NIGERIA, 14th May 1999
5 student activists were arrested early in the week as a result of their
involvement in the campaign against the increase in student fees! They
were arrested on Monday 10th May, in the students' union bus of the
LAUTECH students. A further three students were arrested the second day on
the University campus, for leading the campaign for their release and
continuing the campaign against the imposed fees.
They had aunched a campaign against the draconian fees imposed on the
students of Ilorin by the university Authorities.They succeeded in
stopping the collection of the fees last week Friday, 7th May, and the
agitation was supposed to continue this week. The management of the
University set up the students on Monday 10th May. Other students are in
danger of being arrested and are wanted by the police. Some have gone
missing.
The LAUTECH students' union is involved in the campaign for their release
as well as the NANS (Student Union of Nigeria) zone D. The LAUTECH
students supported the campaign by providing their union bus and some
activists from the union have also joined in the campaign.
Last week the University of Ibadan was closed down as a result of student
protests against fees.
On Monday, the agitation was continuing and they had succeeded in halting
the collection of the fees. This forced the management to call the leaders
to a meeting with the Dean of students' affairs. After the meeting, they
were arrested at gun point on their way out of the campus.
They were charged with inciting and breaking the University gate lock! The
Magistrate refused to grant them bail and adjourned the case till the 29th
of June! The arrested students are in a bad state as they were all beaten
by the police and they have been refused food since they were arrested
last Monday! They have not even been able to have a bath or change their
clothes since they time were arrested.
The story was published in The Punch, a Nigerian newspaper on 12th and
13th May.
The President of the State Nigerian Labour Congress (trade unions) along
with some other trade union activists went to the court to solidarise with
the arrested students and to stand as guarantors for them in case they
were granted bail.
Human Rights orgaisiations are also involved.
The solidarity campaign has to organise food for the arrested students
beacuse if you are arrested in Nigeria you have to feed yourself in
detention.
The situation in Ilorin is similar to the general situation. The
University of Ibadan has been closed down as a result of student protests
against fees.
The names of the arrested are:
Akinrogunde Tosin, (UNILORIN, University of Ilorin)
Isiaka Adegbile, (O.A.U., Ife)
Gbenga, (Acting President of the LAUTECH students' union)
Ropo, (NANS Zone D Treasurer)
Lekan Odewu,(UNILORIN, University of Ilorin)
and five others
NOTE: Please send a copy of any letters of protest you do manage to get
sent to our campaign address:
Nigeria@socappeal.easynet.co.uk
Yours in solidarity,
Socialist Appeal's "In Defence of Marxism" web site
socappeal@easynet.co.uk
http://www.marxist.com
http://www.socialist.net
PO Box 2626
London N1 7SQ
Britain