OAU students storm EFCC office, demand release of schoolmates

Students of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Wednesday, stormed the Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to demand the release of their school mates who were recently arrested by operatives of the anti-graft agency.

This was as the commission on Wednesday morning around 2 a.m., reportedly raided some student hostels in Oduduwa Estate, Ile-Ife, broke into rooms, and arrested over 70 students of the institution.

According to reports, the protesting students, led by the leadership of the Students’ Union Government of the institution, stormed the EFCC office enmasse in three Coaster buses and three Hummer buses as they vowed to secure the release of their colleagues who they said were illegally arrested.

Narrating the scenario, sources in Ile-Ife told newsmen that the EFCC officials stormed Fine Touch and Superb hostels in Oduduwa Estate, Ile-Ife, and rounded up the students for reasons nobody could say.

The Students’ Union President of the institution, Abass Ojo who spoke with newsmen, said the union had details of “72 students picked up from their hostels, with phones and cars taken away.

He said, “Information at our reach revealed that EFCC officials stormed the two hostels between 1:40 a.m. and 4:00 a.m., but the question remains: how can you arrest people for using iPhones, laptops, and cars?”

Another student, simply identified as Ewatee, said that female students were among those who were picked up, adding that even some fresh students who just went to greet their senior colleagues were also arrested.

“According to our sources, the students were seen being marched into a white Hummer bus, which was one of the six vehicles on their entourage, under the supervision of some security officials, heading towards Ibadan,” the student said.

Meanwhile, Val9ja News learns that even the institution’s management has said that there had not been any communication between the anti-graft agency and the institution alleging or accusing any of its students of financial crime but that the investigation into the reported arrest of the students was ongoing.

On his part, the Public Relations Officer for the Obafemi Awolowo University, Mr Olanrewaju Abiodun told newsmen that the institution was yet to confirm if those arrested are OAU students or not.

“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 inquiries 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,” he said.

When contacted, the Head of Public Affairs, Department of EFCC, Ibadan zonal command, Olumide Egbodofo, said an update would be given on the incident.

“A press statement will be released regarding that soon,” Egbodofo said.

Relatedly, the National Association Of University Students, had in a statement released on Wednesday, condemned the arrest of the students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, by the Economic Financial Crime Commission, on Tuesday night.

The statement signed by its National Director of Security and Safety, Eruobami Ayobami; Deputy National President, Babalola Daniel; and the Vice Chairman of NAUS in the state, Akinyemi Hammed, faults the process and actions of the commission, saying, “It is important that as students leaders, the security and safety of our students is paramount to us and the actions of the EFCC is synonymous to an action of gang of thieves and burglars.”

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