Students from Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Osun State, stormed the Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday to protest the arrest of 72 of their fellow students by EFCC operatives.
The students arrived in buses, demanding the release of those arrested by the anti-graft agency.
EFCC operatives raided Fine Touch and Superb hostels in Oduduwa Estate, Ile-Ife, around 2 a.m. on Wednesday, arrested the students, and took them to the EFCC’s Zonal Command in Iyaganku, Ibadan. Among the arrested students were reportedly six medical students.
The protest came after students reported that the EFCC had damaged the CCTV cameras at the facility before carrying out the operation.
A student leader confirmed the arrest of the six medical students and said that about 72 students, in total, had been arrested.
The students arrived at the EFCC office amidst the sound of sporadic gunshots.
The Public Relations Officer of the institution, Mr Olanrewaju Abiodun, said it could not be confirmed if truly those arrested are OAU students or not.
He said, “As I’m talking to you now, there has not been any communication between the anti-grant agency and the institution alleging or accusing any student of financial crime.
“The management is still making enquiries to know if those arrested by EFCC are our students and their actual number.
“I can assure you that once we have any information or breakthrough on the identities of those arrested, the management will meet and get back to you,”
The motives behind the arrests have yet to be confirmed. The Students’ Union President, Abass Ojo, said that the union had information that “72 students were picked up from their hostels, with phones and cars taken away.”
Students expressed concerns about the reasons for the arrests, especially for using iPhones, laptops, and cars.
Some reported that even female students and freshers who had just gone to greet their senior colleagues were arrested.
