A controversial midnight operation conducted by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Ondo State has sparked intense reactions from various quarters. The incident, which unfolded in the early hours of Wednesday, saw EFCC agents carrying out raids on three student lodges around 2 am, leading to the arrest of an undisclosed number of students.
A circulating video on social media alleges that the EFCC officials forcefully entered the rooms, resulting in damaged window frames and doors. The unauthorized nature of the operation has triggered outrage, particularly from the student community.
Responding swiftly to the incident, the FUTA Student Union issued a statement condemning the intrusive and arbitrary arrests by the armed EFCC operatives. Oluwasoromidayo Olayemi, the President of the students’ union, called for calm and demanded the immediate release of the detained students. Olayemi expressed regret over the violent incident, highlighting the destruction of property, mistreatment of students, including allegations of a female student being molested, and injuries inflicted on others.
Furthermore, the Student Union president pointed out that the EFCC’s actions violated a directive issued by the Commission’s Executive Chairman on November 1, 2023, which mandated the cessation of night-time sting operations across all EFCC commands. Olayemi emphasized that the arrests made by the EFCC agents were unlawful, illegal, and a direct contradiction of the Chairman’s order, thus undermining the students’ rights and safety.
As efforts are being made to secure the release and return of the detained students to the campus, the student union reiterated its stance against the unauthorized actions of the EFCC operatives and stressed the need for accountability and respect for due process.
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