Students of Obafemi Awolowo University, (OAU), Ile-Ife, on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, protested the arrest of their colleagues by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operatives at the commission’s zonal command in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The students led by the leadership of their union stormed the commission’s office in three Coaster buses and three Hummer buses to secure the release of their colleagues.
EFCC operatives arrested 69 students of the institution in a raid on off-campus hostels in the early hours of Wednesday.
A statement on the X handle of the EFCC read:
“Operatives of the Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested sixty-nine, 69, suspected internet fraudsters in Osun State.
They were arrested on Wednesday, November 1, 2023 at Oduduwa Estate area of Ile-Ife, Osun State following actionable intelligence on their suspected involvement in fraudulent internet-related activities.
Credible intelligence linked Oduduwa Estate with activities of suspected internet fraudsters.
The suspects are: Dankuwo Eniola Erioluwa, Mustapha Monsuru Oluwanisola, Adeyeye Timilehin Ebenezer, Toromade Hammed Adedeji, Busari Abdulazeez Ayodeji, Adeleye Olumuyiwa Emmanuel, Oluwasakin Moyosore Favour, Olubini Pere Michael, Oluwadara Emmanuel Benny, Gbadamosi Okikola Omotola, Okusipe Tobiloba Paul, Nnekwelugo Enaemeka, Aghwaritoma Wisdom, Adesina Gbolahan Khalid and Micheal Olugoke Oluwaseun.
Others are: Obafemi Joshua Mayowa, Eronmonsele Anthony Igberaese, Salau Oluwawumi, Jaiyeola Yinka Temitope, Ajayi Ayodeji Olanrenwaju, Oguntade Oluwabukunmi David, Abdulmumini Abdulsamad, Tolulope Oduola Folaranmi, Kayode Abdulraheem Ajuwon, Akinyemi Oluwagbenro Aduragbemi, Ayodeji Olumose Adedeji, Alawode Femi Segun, Junaid Hafiz Adeyinka, Akolade Oladele Sunday, Oyeniyi Banji Andrew, Oladusu Lanrinde Morakinyo, Ojo John Ifeoluwa, Akwuaka Tochukwu Blaise and Ogunleye Daniel Ayobami and Adebowale Omodesire Diekola.
The rest are: Arekemase Olayinka Ridwan, Ajigbolamu Ayomide Ademola, Asegun David Damola, Adibe Elvis Ebubechukwu, Ohakanu Chidubem, Adeoye Mayowa Irejah, Adesokan Charles Adekunle, Olorunfemi Isaac Oladimeji, Odeyemi Femi Victor, Alimi Ajibola Akorede, Okeke Ifaenyi Francis, Fawehinmi Ayomide Simeon, Soniola Olumide Elijah, Yahaya Isah Salihu, Daramola Junia Olamide, Agbabikaka Mojuolaoluwa and Kingsley Ejike Nweake.
Others are: Camara Abdullahi, Aminu Kehinde, Bayo Adegoke Iyanuoluwa, Alao Kolawale Oluwaseun, Oloruntoba Oluwatosin Adeniyi, Idowu Philip Oluwaseun, Maiye Daniel Olasile, Oyelami Peter OLuwaseyi, Emmanuel Nsochukwu, Komolafe Tosin, Praise Izuagie, Umehidi Obinna, Olujulo Lucas Ifeoluwa, Omejeh Stanley, Latilo Tolu, Oluwaseun Akinrelere and Great Onufomah.
Items recovered include exotic cars, 190 mobile phones and 40 laptops among others.
The suspects have made useful statements to the EFCC and will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded”.
In a chat with journalists during the protest, the President of the Students’ Union Government, (OAU), Abass Ojo, said the union had details of the students picked up from their hostels, with phones and cars taken away.
He said: “Information at our reach revealed that EFCC officials stormed the two hostels between 1:40 a.m. and 4:00 a.m., but the question remains: how can you arrest people for using iPhones, laptops, and cars?”
Another student, simply identified as Ewatee, said that female students were among those who were picked up by the operatives.
However, in a chat with journalists, the institution’s spokesman, Olanrewaju Abiodun, said an investigation into the reported arrest of the students was ongoing.
“As I’m talking to you now, there has not been any communication between the anti-grant agency and the institution alleging or accusing any student of financial crime.
“The management is still making inquiries to know if those arrested by EFCC are our students and their actual number.
“I can assure you that once we have any information or breakthrough on the identities of those arrested, the management will meet and get back to you,” he added.
Reactions have trailed the raid by EFCC on X (Twitter) with many expressing annoyance:
Beauty🦋💙@TheRealAbiola: Owning an iPhone, car and/or an AC is now a crime in Nigeria! How on earth will EFCC raid OAU hostels by 2am?🥹💔 Innocent students were packed and stuffed inside buses and driven away to Iyagunku station in IBADAN in the middle of the night! Over 40 students!
Omolomo @TheVawulence: So EFCC went to raid OAU hostel and took away over 60 boys tagging them yahoo boys because they had phones and laptop, some were even taken away because they have a car. They went on to Facebook and post it because they know those ones don’t know what’s going on. Some of these boys just finished exams and are about to do clearance. Medical students for that matter, they have been beaten and not given access to even speak to a lawyer. @officialEFCC free OAU students, Laptop doesn’t equate to doing Yahoo. Please help me retweet and tag anyone who can help, one of my brother has been taken. Free OAU students.
Samzy @SamzyVG: EFCC Harvesting 60 OAU Students overnight is a Crime!! That’s Madness!
