The Ibadan zonal command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has released 58 out of the 69 students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun, arrested on Wednesday morning.
The students were arrested by officials of the commission in a midnight raid on off-campus hostels.
58 of the students were released late Wednesday while there are ongoing talks to ensure the freedom of the remaining 11.
The EFCC officials raided Fine Touch and Superb hostels in Oduduwa Estate, Ile-Ife, and rounded up the students.
Consequently, other students of the institution gathered at the commission’s office to demand the release of their arrested colleagues.
The protesting students were led by the leadership of the students’ union government (SUG) of the institution.
In a new development, the EFCC has banned night operations by its operatives. A statement titled ‘EFCC Bans Sting Operations at Night’ signed by the Head, Media Publicity of the EFCC, Dele Oyewale dated November 1, 2023, read:
“In line with the newly-reviewed procedures on arrest and bail of suspects by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the Executive Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Ola Olukoyede has directed that sting operations at night time be stopped in all the Commands of the EFCC.
He gave the directive in Abuja on Wednesday, November 1, 2023 in reaction to the arrest of 69 suspected internet fraudsters by operatives of the Ibadan Zonal of the Commission in Ile-Ife, Osun State. Already, many of the suspects duly profiled by the Command have been released, while profiling of suspects yet un-released will be completed, without further delay.
The Commission wishes to assure the public that it will not relent in its adherence to the rule of law, in the exercise of its mandate”.
