Federal College of Forestry staff, students attacked 7 EFCC operatives – Spokesman [PHOTOS]

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared that seven of its operatives were attacked and held hostage on Tuesday at Federal College of Forestry, Ibadan.

The Commission noted that the operatives were in the college for a routine verification exercise.

Dele Oyewale, Head, Media and Publicity of EFCC, disclosed this on Wednesday.

DAILY POST had earlier reported that there was confusion in Ibadan on Tuesday when operatives of the Commission stormed the college. https://dailypost.ng/2023/10/25/confusion-in-ibadan-as-efcc-operatives-storm-college-shoot-student/

EFCC in the statement made available to DAILY POST noted that seven operatives of its Ibadan Zonal Command on routine verification exercise of a surety, one Azeez Kazeem Oluwakemi, were attacked and held hostage by staff and students of the college.

Oyewale maintained that the operatives were in the college to authenticate the address and identity of Oluwakemi, who stood as a surety for one Alakinde Khalid Kolawole, a suspected internet fraudster in the custody of the Commission.

The EFCC spokesman in the statement, added that students and staff of the college went on a frenzy, attacking the operatives who were on an authorized assignment.

The anti-graft agency noted that the college community was duly informed about the mission of the team.

The Commission further alleged that the college’s Student Union President and his colleagues and some staff of the institution ignited violent confrontation with the operatives.

“Seven operatives of the Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on routine verification exercise of a surety: Azeez Kazeem Oluwakemi were, on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, attacked and held hostage by staff and students of the Federal College of Forestry, Idi-shin Estate, Ibadan, Oyo State.

“The operatives were in the college to authenticate the address and identity of Oluwakemi, who stood as a surety for Alakinde Khalid Kolawole, a suspected internet fraudster in the custody of the Commission.

“A surety verification exercise is a standard law enforcement practice for the perfection of bail conditions of a suspect.

“For some inscrutable reasons, students and staff of the college went on a frenzy of attacks against operatives of the EFCC, who were on an authorized assignment.

“The Commission wishes to assure the public that it will continue to perform its duties in line with its mandate, and unprovoked attacks against personnel of the Commission will no longer be tolerated,” parts of the statement said.