The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Zone B South-South, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Bayelsa State Government, the Nigeria Police Force and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to arrest and prosecute those responsible for the murder of a serving corps member, Comrade Stanley Okebaram, in Nembe Local Government Area.
The student body warned that failure to make significant and verifiable progress within the stipulated period would compel it to mobilise students across the South-South region and beyond for mass protests to demand justice.
This was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the Zone B Coordinator, Victor Ogechukwu Anthony.
Okebaram, a serving corps member in Bayelsa State and former Students’ Union President of the Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri, was reportedly murdered while serving in the Bassambiri community of Nembe LGA.
His lifeless body was later discovered abandoned near a river in his host community, a development NANS described as “heinous, barbaric and unacceptable”.
“It is unacceptable that a young Nigerian who answered the national call to serve his country would have his life cut short under such horrific circumstances,” the statement read.
“This unfortunate incident raises serious concerns about the safety and security of corps members deployed across the country.”
NANS Zone B demanded that the Bayelsa State Government deploy all available security and investigative resources to identify and apprehend the perpetrators.
It also urged the Nigeria Police Force to conduct a thorough, transparent and impartial investigation without compromise or external influence, while calling on the NYSC management to actively collaborate with security agencies.
The student leaders expressed condolences to the family of the deceased, students of the Federal Polytechnic Nekede and the entire Nigerian student community.
“Failure to achieve meaningful results within this stipulated period will leave NANS Zone B South-South with no option but to mobilise Nigerian students across the South-South region and beyond to embark on lawful and democratic actions aimed at demanding justice for our fallen comrade.
“We shall not fold our arms while the life of a Nigerian student is treated with disregard.”
NANS also called on residents of Nembe, members of the host community, fellow corps members and all Nigerians with useful information to cooperate with security agencies.
“The blood of Stanley Okebaram must not cry in vain. Justice must be swift, impartial and decisive,” the statement concluded.