The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), yesterday, called for justice in the case of a Nigerian student named Ikechukwu ‘Ikem’ Emmanuel, who lost his life in the Philippines.
The Vice President for External Affairs of NANS, Babatunde Afeez Akinteye, conveyed in a statement released yesterday that the global community should unequivocally denounce such a horrific and inhumane incident.
Akinteye expressed NANS’ profound distress and shock regarding the cruel and savage act leading to the tragic demise of the Nigerian medical student in the Philippines.
He cautioned that the Philippines-China relationship should not eclipse the quest for justice on behalf of Ikem, emphasizing that any failure to hold those responsible accountable would not be accepted.
He said: “Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family, friends, and the Nigerian student community who have been affected by this devastating loss.”
‘’The brutal and senseless murder of Ikem, a promising Nigerian medical student pursuing his dreams in the Republic of the Philippines, is an unforgivable tragedy that has shaken our collective conscience.”
‘’We unequivocally demand that the Philippines government take swift and decisive action to bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice. The culprits responsible for this senseless act of violence must be identified, apprehended, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
‘’We emphasize that the relationship between the Philippines and China should not overshadow the pursuit of justice for Ikem.”
‘’Failure to hold the perpetrators accountable will not be tolerated. We firmly assert that if the Philippines government does not ensure that justice is served, we will not hesitate to escalate this issue to an international level, including mobilizing a global protest at their embassy in Nigeria and beyond.’’
NANS appealed to the Philippine government to address the issue with the utmost urgency and the gravity it merits, stating: ‘’Justice must not only be served but must be seen to be served, as failure to do so would not only be an egregious miscarriage of justice but would also be an affront to the principles of humanity and fairness that form the bedrock of any civilized society.”