Students of the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, on Wednesday stormed the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.
The students were protesting the arrest of some of their colleagues by operatives of the anti-graft agency on Tuesday night.
DAILY POST gathered that EFCC operatives arrested over 70 OAU students during the raid.
It was gathered that the raid was targeted at two off-campus hostels, Fine Touch and Superb, in Oduduwa Estate.
The arrested students were subsequently transported to the EFCC’s Ibadan office for further questioning.
Reacting to the development, the National Association of University Students, NAUS, condemned the raid and subsequent arrest of the students.
In a statement signed by its National Director of Security and Safety, Eruobami Ayobami, Deputy National President, Babalola Daniel, and Vice Chairman of NAUS in the state, Akinyemi Hammed, the students’ leadership faulted the EFCC raid.
“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,” the statement said.
Reasons for the arrest have not been confirmed as of press time, but the Students’ Union President, Abass Ojo, said the union has details of 72 students picked up from the hostel.
Ojo added that the students’ phones and cars were also taken away by the EFCC operatives.
The Public Relations Officer of OAU, Abiodun Olanrewaju, confirmed the arrest.
In a phone chat with DAILY POST, he said, “We are on the way to EFCC Zonal Office, Ibadan. Some persons have been arrested but we cannot confirm if they are all out students.
“OAU management will only speak for our students. On arrival, we will identify those involved after meeting with the EFCC management.
“We also cannot stop EFCC from doing their job. If any student is found involved, they should be punished.
“OAU management would not support criminals who are masking as students.”
