Students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, on Wednesday, stormed the Ibadan Zonal Command of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibadan, to protest the arrest of their colleagues by operatives of the anti-graft agency.
According to reports the students, who came in three Coaster buses and three Hummer buses and led by the leadership of the Students’ Union Government of the institution stormed the commission’s office to secure the release of their arrested colleagues.
This was even as the institution’s management said that there had not been any communication between the anti-grant agency and the institution alleging or accusing any of its students of financial crime.
About 70 students of the institution were reportedly arrested by officials of the commission in a midnight raid on off-campus hostels on Wednesday.
Eye witnesses say the EFCC officials stormed Fine Touch and Superb hostels in Oduduwa Estate, Ile-Ife, and rounded up the students.
Though reasons for the arrest could not be confirmed as of press time, the Students’ Union President, Abass Ojo, said the union had details of “72 students picked up from their hostels, with phones and cars taken away.
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.
The Public Relations Officer for the institution, Mr Olanrewaju Abiodun, said it could not be confirmed 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.
