OAU students stage protest at EFCC Ibadan office following arrest of 72 peers

On Wednesday, students from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, protested outside the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) office in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State. They were demonstrating against the arrest of some of their fellow students by EFCC operatives the previous night.

Over 70 OAU students were arrested during the raid, which was focused on two off-campus hostels, Fine Touch and Superb, located in Oduduwa Estate. The arrested students were subsequently taken to the EFCC’s Ibadan office for further questioning.

The National Association of University Students (NAUS) strongly condemned the raid and the subsequent arrests. In a statement signed by its National Director of Security and Safety, Eruobami Ayobami, Deputy National President Babalola Daniel, and Vice Chairman of NAUS in the state, Akinyemi Hammed, the students’ leadership criticized the EFCC’s actions.

The reasons for the arrests were not confirmed at the time of the report. However, the Students’ Union President, Abass Ojo, stated that the union had details of 72 students picked up from the hostel. Ojo also mentioned that the EFCC operatives confiscated the students’ phones and cars.

The Public Relations Officer of OAU, Abiodun Olanrewaju, confirmed the arrests.