A coalition of Northern Youth Groups have deplored the recent attacks by the Turkish government, whereby innocent Nigerians are allegedly being subjected to incessant harassment and intimidation.
They appealed to the Nigerian government to intervene and halt the continued arrest and detention of Nigerian citizens in the wake of the July failed coup in Turkey.
Addressing a news conference in Kaduna, Chairman of the coalition, Murtala Mohammed, criticized the use of state agents by the Turkish government to intimidate Nigerian citizens who are pursuing their legitimate academic careers.
“We condemn in strongest terms the use of state agents to intimidate our citizens pursuing legitimate academic careers,” they said.
While noting that there have been massive human rights abuses and sustained efforts to clamp down on the opposition by the Turkish government, the youths called on the federal government to take urgent measures in ensuring that Nigerians are never intimidated or harassed in any part of the world.
They went on to say, “we suspect that the action of the pro-government forces in Turkey to take out their political frustration on innocent Nigerian Students is in a desperate bid to further a controversial political agenda Of expansionism.
“We were shocked by the recent account of one of the victims, Hassan Danjuma Adamu, who told the Cable News that he was imprisoned in Turkey and now suffering mental disturbance.
They however commended the Minister of Education for not yielding to pressure for the closure of private Turkish businesses in Nigeria.
“We are deeply touched by the recent intimidation of innocent students, coming a few months after the Honourable Minister of Education refused to submit to the call for the closure of private Turkish businesses in this country”.
Furthermore, they said: “we find it unfathomable that all of these actions of the pro-government forces in Turkey, are coming some months after an unsuccessful propaganda that our country’s shadow had loomed behind, what is now known as a phantom coup in that country”.
The northern youths held the view that if the Turkish government failed to stop the inhuman treatment against Nigerians, the Nigerian government should immediately severe its diplomatic ties with the Turkish government.
“We have seen international media records of massive human rights abuses in that country, and the sustained effort to clamp down on the opposition, notably the media, civil society a, peace promoters like Hizmet Movement and we frown at all of these,” they said.
