In a midnight operation outside the Obafemi Awolowo University campus in Ile-Ife, Osun State, officials from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) reportedly apprehended more than 70 students.
Multiple sources in Ile-Ife, confirming the incident on Wednesday morning, revealed that around 2 a.m., EFCC officials conducted a raid on the Fine Touch and Superb hostels located in Oduduwa Estate, Ile-Ife. During this operation, they forcefully entered rooms and detained the students.
The specific reasons for these arrests have not been confirmed at this time. However, the Students’ Union President, Abass Aderemi, mentioned that the union possesses information regarding the arrest of “72 students from the hostel, along with the confiscation of phones and cars.”
A former union official, Joy Abiola, also informed our correspondent that some of the detained students were subjected to physical violence.
“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.”
A video shared with our correspondent, captured by one of the students, depicted a group of young individuals, purportedly students from the hostel, being marched into a white Hummer Bus.
In the footage, some security personnel were observed using force to direct them and urging them to board swiftly.
In another video, the white Hummer Bus was accompanied by approximately six other vehicles as they departed. According to students, these officials were leaving the Ile-Ife area and traveling to Ibadan.
When contacted, the head of the Public Affairs Department for the EFCC’s Ibadan Zonal Command, Olumide Egbodofo, mentioned that updates on the incident would be provided at a later time.
“A press statement will be released regarding that soon,” the spokesperson added.
