Officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have reportedly apprehended 72 students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State.
It was gathered that the arrests were made in a midnight raid of hostels outside the campus.
According to Punchng, multiple sources in Ile-Ife confirmed on Wednesday morning 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.
Reasons for the arrest have not been confirmed as of the time of making this report.
The Students’ Union President, Abass Aderemi, said the union had details of “72 students picked up from the hostel with phones and cars taken away.”
A former union official, Joy Abiola, told Punchng that the students were beaten.
“The EFCC officials came between 1:40 a.m and 4:00 a.m. Only students stay in those hostels,” Joy said.
She added that, “How can you arrest people for owning iPhones, laptops, and cars?”
Another student, simply identified 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.”
In a video taken by one of the students, several young persons said to be students of the hostel were seen being marched into a white Hummer Bus with some security officials hitting them and ordering them to move and enter quickly.
In another video, about six vehicles were seen alongside the white Hummer Bus on the move.
Students said the officials were leaving the Ile-Ife area and heading to Ibadan.
When contacted, the head of Public Affairs Department of the EFCC, Ibadan Zonal Command, Olumide Egbodofo, said an update would be given on the incident.
“A press statement will be released regarding that soon,” the spokesperson added.
