Watch Your Back When Organizing Anti-Government Programs: Thugs Might Be Around the Corner, Shehu Sani Counsels CSOs, Activists

By Emmanuel Kwada

Former Senator and human rights activist Shehu Sani has issued a stark warning to the leaders of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), urging them to remain vigilant during political events and protests.

Speaking on Saturday, Sani cautioned that the sudden disappearance of assigned security forces from event venues is a telltale sign that sponsored thugs are imminent, leaving organizers with a dire choice: stand and confront the assailants or flee for safety.

Sani’s counsel comes in the wake of two high-profile incidents that have rattled civil society groups and student movements across Nigeria.

Whenever you are organizing any political event or protest and you observe that the security forces assigned to the venue have quickly disappeared from the scene without notice, just know that sponsored thugs are on their way

He cited the brutal beating of NLC President Joe Ajaero in Imo State and the recent savage attack on NANS President Atiku Abubakar Isah in Abuja as evidence of a growing trend of orchestrated violence against activists.

“Whenever you are organizing any political event or protest and you observe that the security forces assigned to the venue have quickly disappeared from the scene without notice, just know that sponsored thugs are on their way,” Sani stated in a post on X earlier today at 09:35 WAT.

The assault on NANS President Atiku Abubakar Isah, which occurred during the association’s inauguration ceremony on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at The Wells Carlton Hotel in Asokoro, Abuja, has sparked widespread outrage. Atiku alleged that thugs, purportedly linked to Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, stormed the venue armed with cutlasses and guns.

According to Atiku, the attackers disrupted the event, battered him to a stupor, stripped him naked, and abducted him to an unknown location. He claimed the assault was a reprisal for rejecting a N100 million bribe allegedly offered by Seyi Tinubu to sway his leadership.

Atiku alleged that thugs, purportedly linked to Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, stormed the venue armed with cutlasses and guns

“They beat people and injured many. Nigerians should beg Seyi to spare my life,” Atiku pleaded in a distressed call to Sahara Reporters on the day of the incident.

Seyi Tinubu has vehemently denied these allegations, labeling them “fictional” and “defamatory” in a statement on Instagram on May 2, 2025.

“I have never knowingly met him before. Neither did I visit any location with thugs,” he asserted, hinting at potential legal action if the claims persist. Independent sources at the hotel reported no confirmed presence of Seyi Tinubu, and authorities have yet to substantiate the accusations.

The choice is to stay and confront them or ‘pick race

Sani also referenced the earlier assault on NLC President Joe Ajaero, who was reportedly beaten by suspected thugs during a protest in Imo State.

The incident, which drew condemnation from labor unions and opposition figures like Atiku Abubakar, highlighted what Sani describes as a “deliberate pattern” of intimidation targeting vocal leaders. “The choice is to stay and confront them or ‘pick race,’” Sani advised, emphasizing the need for civil societies and activists to anticipate such threats.

The former senator’s warning has amplified calls for accountability and protection for activists. Civil society groups have urged the federal government to investigate these attacks and ensure the safety of those exercising their democratic rights.

Meanwhile, Atiku Isah’s allegations have fueled a national debate, with some questioning Seyi Tinubu’s influence and others dismissing the claims as politically motivated.

As tensions rise, Sani’s message resonates as both a rallying cry and a sobering reminder of the risks facing Nigeria’s activist community. For now, the NANS and NLC presidents, along with their supporters, face an uncertain path forward in their fight for justice and reform.