The internal crisis rocking the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has taken a dangerous turn as a self-proclaimed official of the association has publicly confirmed the physical assault of the embattled NANS President, Comrade Atiku Abubakar Isah.
In a video that surfaced online, the NANS official identified as Yusuff Decimal openly admitted that Atiku was beaten by members of the student body. This revelation adds to the growing controversies engulfing the student organization, particularly its alleged ties to Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu.
Appearing in the video alongside Decimal was Adesakin Adefemi, who was identified as the person who uploaded the footage online.
Addressing popular social media activist Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, Decimal declared in Pidgin English:
"VeryDarkMan, I came here because of you. Let me tell you this, our NANS President is Olushola Oladoja. He is the elected president. Number 2, Seyi Tinubu is not part of us. He is not a comrade. He is not a student. Nothing concerns Seyi Tinubu. NANS is not a party—no be APC, no be PDP. Na you dey follow APC, na you dey follow PDP. Na you know how you dey make your money."
He continued with a veiled threat:
“No carry yourself come NANS. NANS go beat you. Go ask Atiku. National Association of Nigerian Students beat am because e dey impersonate. E no concern Seyi Tinubu. Why you dey mention Seyi Tinubu?”
Decimal also issued threats to human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, stating:
“And Sowore, we go mend you. All the social media una dey do, make una dey use am chop. No carry your issues come NANS.”
Sources have confirmed that SaharaReporters earlier reported on an alleged plot involving NANS leaders, with support from Seyi Tinubu and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), to target Sowore. These revelations stem from covert meetings allegedly held to plan attacks in retaliation for SaharaReporters’ continued exposure of government-related misconduct.
The crisis within NANS intensified in April when Comrade Atiku Abubakar Isah was brutally attacked during the association's inauguration ceremony at The Wells Carlton Hotel, Asokoro, Abuja. Thugs allegedly loyal to Seyi Tinubu stormed the venue wielding weapons, causing panic, injuring attendees, and robbing several participants. The attack reportedly occurred just after the inauguration and while Senator Ibrahim Shekarau was giving a speech.
High-profile guests, including Senator Shekarau and former Kogi State Governor Idris Wada, were also caught in the violence. Atiku later alleged that the attack was a deliberate effort to silence him after he reportedly rejected a ₦100 million bribe.
In a legal move to defend his rights, Comrade Isah has filed a lawsuit against the Director of the DSS, the Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), and Seyi Tinubu at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The lawsuit, Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/966/2025, filed on May 14, seeks over ₦32 billion in damages for unlawful detention, defamation, and violation of fundamental human rights.
Among other reliefs, Isah is asking the court to declare that his abduction, 15-day detention without trial, and continued harassment by state actors constitute a breach of his rights as guaranteed under the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
As tensions continue to escalate, questions linger about the future of student leadership in Nigeria and the growing intersection of youth politics, state power, and national security.
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