The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, yesterday staged a peaceful protest at the Turkish Embassy, demanding unconditional release of 50 detained Nigerians schooling in that country. The protest took place immediately after inauguration ceremony of the newly elected executives of the association at the Gwagwalada main campus of the University of Abuja.

Speaking at the protest, the newly elected president, Comrade Haruna Kadiri, acknowledged the trauma and difficulty Nigerians schooling in Turkey were being subjected to, and therefore gave Turkish government seven days ultimatum to release the students and do something urgent to reconsider the final year students deported. Kadiri warned the Turkish Government against using its political differences to discriminate or punish Nigerians, calling on the government to tender public apology to the students and Nigerian government.

Explaining why Nigerians schooling in Turkey were arrested, the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. Useni Kumansi, said that there was a misunderstanding between Turkish Ministry of Education and Turkish police officers that led to the arrest of over 50 Nigerians, but after interrogations and investigations some were released. Kumansi, represented by his deputy, Amb. Semiah C., assured the NANS President that the Turkish Government was doing everything possible to resolve the problem, adding that as soon as the on-going investigation was concluded the remaining four Nigerian students in Turkish cell would be released and public apology would also be tendered. (Nigerian Pilot)

•Photo shows NANS President, Comrade Haruna Kadiri.

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