OAU Students Condemn EFCC Raid On FUTA Students

Students of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife have condemned the midnight raid carried out by operatives of the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on their counterpart at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, on Wednesday.

Osun Defender had reported that the EFCC officials invaded the off-campus hostels of the students. About 15 students of the institution were arrested by the officials of the anti-graft agency.

It was learnt that the operatives stormed students’ lodges around the Orita Obele Roadblock at about 2 am, broke into rooms, and arrested the students.

It was also gathered that many of the students first thought the anti-graft agency operatives were kidnappers until they later found that they were EFCC officials suspected to come from the Benin Zonal office of the commission.

The raid has prompted a flurry of reactions from students and social media users, who have shared videos and accounts alleging forced entry into rooms and the arrest of some students.

Visual evidence shared online shows damaged window frames, purportedly resulting from the operatives’ attempts to gain access to the lodges.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Students’ Representative Council of the Great Ife Students’ Union and signed by the Speaker, Ganiyu Yusuf, Praise Adesoji, Clerk, Akande Peter, Deputy Speaker, said the OAU students strongly condemned the action carried out by the operatives of the EFCC.

They added that the OAU students stand in solidarity with FUTA on the reported ‘unjust’ arrest of the students.

According to the statement, “The Students Representative Council of the Great Ife Students’ Union vehemently condemns the unjust and inhumane actions carried out by members of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under the supposedly banned “Operation Sting in the early hours of Wednesday, 14th February, 2024.

“The recent raid, arrest, and dehumanization of hundreds of students, under the guise of tackling financial crimes, is an horrendous violation of their rights and dignity.

“We stand in solidarity with our fellow students at the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) who have recently been a victim of this similar injustices perpetrated under “Operation sting”- an operation which has been outrightly banned few months ago following the outcry of meaningful Nigerians on the illegality inherent in the code of conducts of such operation that gives no regard to human rights.”

“We will like to state unequivocally that OAU, a beacon of resistance against oppression, extends unwavering support to our sister union, FUTASU, in these trying times.

“Not only, we strongly condemn the unhealthy profiling of financially stable students as fraudsters and the aggressive, midnight raids likeable to armed robberies by operatives of the EFCC. Agreeably, it is now evident to all that the EFCC’s priorities have been misplaced, focusing on targeting innocent students instead of combating the rampant corruption among politicians and elites.

“Great Ife Students’ Union, having been on the receiving end of such unfortunate circumstance, understands the traumatic experience the aftermath of such ugly incident has on the personality of the victims and the noble reputation of the institution in question. We recall previous instances of unwarranted arrests, and we refuse to tolerate this recurring infringement on the rights of our sister union.

“The Students Representative Council, Great Ife Students Union on behalf of all concerned Nigerian students demands accountability, transparency, and respect for the rights of all students. We call on the EFCC to redirect its efforts towards holding accountable those truly responsible for financial scandals and embezzlement.

“We urge the authorities to investigate these abuses, ensure justice for the victims, and uphold the principles of democracy and rule of law.

“OAU remains steadfast in its commitment to defending the rights and dignity of all students, and we will continue to uphold our mantra of Aluta against all oppression.”