Tension erupted at the Kwara State Polytechnic in Ilorin on Wednesday after reports of the deployment of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission operatives triggered panic and student protests.
The anti-graft officers were seen patrolling locations around the college as examinations were taking place, raising concern on campus.
Eyewitnesses reported confusion when kids began rushing in different ways, with some saying a police officer was after a student—an episode that fueled anxiety.
“We suddenly saw people running in different directions. Nobody really understood what was happening at first, but the presence of armed operatives created fear across the campus,” a student, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.
Another student added, “It is wrong for such operations to take place when students are writing exams. It disrupted the atmosphere and left many of us shaken.”
Some students were outraged by the move and launched a protest, burning tires along stretches of Old Jebba Road that lead to the university.
A visit to the university revealed protest relics, including burning tires at the entrance, showing the demonstration’s ferocity.
Some students were outraged by the move and launched a protest, burning tires along stretches of Old Jebba Road that lead to the university.
A visit to the university revealed protest relics, including burning tires at the entrance, showing the demonstration’s ferocity.
“The management wishes to inform the general public, particularly parents, guardians, and commuters, that a peaceful academic environment has been fully restored on campus and its immediate surroundings following a brief protest by a few students earlier today,” the statement read.
The institution explained that the operation that triggered the tension did not occur within the campus but in the nearby Agbede village.
“The incident originated from reports of security operatives conducting official duties in the nearby Agbede community, an action that reportedly caused concern among some students. It is important to note that no students were arrested during the operation,” the management stated.
It further stated that only a small number of students participated in the protest and commended the swift intervention of security agencies.
“The swift and professional intervention of combined security agencies and the Polytechnic’s internal security personnel ensured the situation was contained promptly without escalation,” the statement noted.
The institution also reassured stakeholders that academic activities continued uninterrupted.
“Students scheduled for morning examinations were duly checked in by their invigilators, and exams are ongoing as planned,” it said.
Reaffirming its commitment to safety, the institution asked the public to resume routine activities, stating that the area was secure.
Meanwhile, attempts to contact the EFCC’s Ilorin Zonal Command were futile, as calls and mail to its Public Relations Officer, Ayodele Babatunde Joseph, had not been replied to as of the time of filing this report.
