A hostels raid by a team of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has resulted in not less than 72 students of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife missing following the invasion of two hostels of the institution
The operation which lasted under an hour saw an unconfirmed number of up to 72 missing. While the names are still being compiled, already confirmed missing are;
Camara Abdullahi, Ogunleye Daniel, Alima Jibola,Yahaya Isah and Adibe Elvis,all of the Accounting Department.
Others include Aminu Kehinde Abdulmujeeb Junia Daramola Abiola Oluwadare of the Department of Mathematics,among others
Findings revealed that the operation is not uncommon with the style often adopted by the anti-graft agency, such as the one it carried out recently in Ibadan which led to the shooting of students of the Institute of Forestry.
In what may turn out to be a breakdown of law and order, students of the institution are set to have embarked on a protest around the offices of the agency.
Pointblankmews.com had earlier reported that the commission arrested no fewer than 70 students of the university.
They were reportedly arrested by officials of the EFCC in a midnight raid on hostels outside the campus.
Credible sources in Ile-Ife confirmed to our correspondent that the officials, around 2 a.m., stormed the Fine Touch and Superb hostels in Oduduwa Estate, Ile-Ife, broke into rooms, and arrested the students.
However, the National Association Of University Students condemned the arrest of the students by the EFCC.
In a statement signed by its National Director of Security and Safety, Eruobami Ayobami; Deputy National President, Babalola Daniel; and the Vice Chairman of NAUS in the state, Akinyemi Hammed, the students’ leadership faults the process and actions of the commission, saying, “It is important that as students leaders, the security and safety of our students is paramount to us and the action of the EFCC is synonymous to an action of gang of thieves and burglars.”
The anti-graft agency in a statement said it arrested 69 suspected internet fraudsters in Ile-Ife.
“They were arrested on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, at Oduduwa Estate area of Ile-Ife, Osun State following actionable intelligence on their suspected involvement in fraudulent internet-related activities. Credible intelligence linked Oduduwa Estate with activities of suspected internet fraudsters,” the anti-graft agency said.
Confirming the release to our correspondent at 8:51pm on Wednesday, Eruobami said, “58 students have been released.”
It is hoped that the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led government will quickly rise to the occasion and prevent the situation from getting out of hand, reminiscent of what happened a few years ago during the ENDSARS crisis.
