We Won’t Join You — NANS fires back at Sowore’s movement

The National Association of Nigerian Students (National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS)) has distanced itself from the “Take It Back” protest movement led by activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore.

NANS accused Sowore and the Take It Back (TIB) Movement of using activism for political purposes instead of genuine advocacy. The student body said the movement appears to have political interests hidden behind its protests.

In a statement released in Abuja, the NANS president, Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, also rejected a report that questioned whether he is truly a student. He called the report false and misleading, saying he is a student of Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology.

He criticized the media platform that published the report, saying journalists should verify facts before publishing stories.

Akinteye also accused Sowore and the TIB Movement of mixing activism, journalism, and politics in a way that makes their intentions unclear. He claimed the group is now seen by many as a political organization rather than an independent activist movement.

He also alleged that some people have linked the movement to groups like IPOB and ESN, though he did not provide evidence for this claim.

The NANS president said the student body will not join forces with Sowore or the Take It Back Movement in protests about kidnapped students and teachers.

He praised groups like the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) for their efforts in supporting victims of kidnapping.

He added that NANS will continue to demand the release of abducted students and will keep holding the government accountable.

Despite the disagreement, he said NANS is committed to peace and will not support violence or disorder in the country.

The disagreement shows a growing conflict between NANS and the Take It Back Movement over credibility, politics, and activism.