Sixty-nine students from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, were detained by operatives from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) during a midnight raid on hostels outside the university.
Multiple sources in Ile-Ife verified to Chronicle NG on Wednesday morning that the officers attacked the Fine Touch and Superb hostels in Oduduwa Estate, Ile-Ife, broke into rooms, and arrested the students about 2 a.m.
As of time of writing this report, the reasons for the arrest had not been confirmed, but the Students’ Union President, Abass Ojo, stated that the union had data of “72 students picked up from the hostel with phones and cars taken away.”
However, the EFCC in statement received by Chronicle NG stated that 69 students were arrested in the raid.
Joy Abiola, a former union officer, informed Chronicle NG that the students were beaten.
“The EFCC officials came between 1:40 a.m and 4:00 a.m. Only students stay in those hostels,” Joy said, adding, “How can you arrest people for owning iPhones, laptops, and cars?”
Another student, identified simply as Ewatee, said, “Female students were among those picked up. Even some fresh students who just went to greet their senior colleagues were arrested. The approach is wrong.”
Several young people reported to be students from the hostel were marched into a white Hummer bus, according to a video shared with Chronicle NG by one of the students, with some security officers striking them and demanding they hurry and enter swiftly.
In another video, roughly six cars can be seen driving beside the white Hummer bus. According to the students, the operatives were leaving Ile-Ife and heading to Ibadan.
When contacted, Olumide Egbodofo, the head of the EFCC‘s Public Affairs Department for the Ibadan Zonal Command, stated an update on the situation will be provided.
“A press statement will be released regarding that soon,” the spokesperson added.
Also, the phone line of the university’s spokesperson, Abiodun Olarewaju, was unreachable as of press time.
