Over 70 OAU Students Reportedly Arrested by EFCC in Midnight Raid on Hostels

In a late-night operation, officials from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) reportedly arrested over 70 students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State. The raid occurred at two hostels located outside the campus, specifically in Oduduwa Estate. As of now, the reasons for the arrests have not been confirmed. The incident has sparked outrage among students and has prompted calls for an explanation from the EFCC.

Key Points

1. Midnight Raid: Around 2 a.m., EFCC officials allegedly conducted a raid on the Fine Touch and Superb hostels in Oduduwa Estate, Ile-Ife. The raid involved breaking into rooms and arresting students.
2. Lack of Clarity: While the reasons for the arrests remain unclear, the Students’ Union President, Abass Ojo, reported that 72 students were taken into custody from the hostels, with their phones and cars confiscated.
3. Allegations of Mistreatment: A former union official, Joy Abiola, claimed that the students were subjected to physical abuse during the arrest. Several students were said to have been beaten by the officials.
4. Questions Surrounding the Arrests: Students have expressed concerns about the nature of the arrests, particularly for the possession of items like iPhones, laptops, and cars. Some believe that these items should not be grounds for arrest.

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1. Involvement of Fresh Students: It is reported that even fresh students, who had visited the hostel to greet their senior colleagues, were caught up in the raid, leading to criticism of the approach taken.
2. Videos of the Arrest: A video taken by one of the students during the operation depicted the young individuals, believed to be students, being marched into a white Hummer Bus by security officials. The video also captured some security personnel using force and ordering the students to board the bus.
3. Official Response Pending: The EFCC’s Ibadan Zonal Command’s head of Public Affairs, Olumide Egbodofo, indicated that an official statement regarding the incident would be released. As of now, there has been no official statement from the EFCC.
4. University’s Spokesperson Unreachable: The university’s spokesperson, Abiodun Olarewaju, could not be reached for comment at the time of reporting.

Conclusion

The late-night arrests of over 70 OAU students by the EFCC have raised concerns and questions about the reasons for the raid and the treatment of the students during the operation. The lack of clarity surrounding the incident has prompted calls for an official explanation from the EFCC, and many are closely following the developments in this case.