Students of the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, on Wednesday, November 1, march the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission–EFCC, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The students were demonstrating the arrest of some of their colleagues by the officers of the anti-graft agency on Tuesday, October 31.
It was gathered that EFCC operatives had more than 70 OAU students during the assault.
It was gathered that the raid was targeted at two off-campus hostels, Fine Touch and Superb, in Oduduwa Estate.
The arrested students were thereafter transported to the EFCC’s Ibadan office for additional questioning.
The National Association of University Students, NAUS, had reacted to the development, castigating the raid and arrest of the students.
In a statement signed by the National Director of Security and Safety, Eruobami Ayobami, and Deputy National President, Babalola Daniel, and Vice Chairman of NAUS in the state, Akinyemi Hammed, the students’ leadership had condemned the EFCC surprise search.
The reasons for the detention have not been confirmed as at the time of filing this report, but the Students’ Union President, Abass Ojo, had remarked that the union had the contacts of 72 students picked up from the hostel.
Ojo added that the students’ phones and cars had also been taken away by the EFCC personnel.
Abiodun Olanrewaju, the Public Relations Officer of OAU had been the officer that confirmed the arrest.
In a phone call with DAILY POST Newspapers, the management of OAU had said:
“The management of OAU will only speak for our students. On arrival, we will point out those involved after meeting with the EFCC authorities.
“We cannot stop the Crimes Commission from doing their job. If any student is found involved, they should be disciplined. We will never harbour criminals disguising as students.”