EFCC raids lodges, arrests FUTA students

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have reportedly raided three student lodges of the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) at about 2 am on Wednesday and whisked away an unspecified number of students.

The night operation by the commission has generated heated reactions in the campus community.

A video circulating on social media alleged that they broke into the rooms and arrested some students. The video also showed broken window frames and doors in an attempt at forced entry by agents of the commission.

Reacting to the incident, the students’ union government has condemned the illegal incursion and arrest of some of the students of the institution by armed agents of the EFCC.

In a statement signed by its President, Oluwasoromidayo Olayemi, the students’ union government called for calm and demanded the immediate release of the students arrested by the commission.

In the statement, Olayemi said: “We regret to inform you of an ugly incident that happened within our school off-campus community. At 3:00 am on the 14th February, 2024, some agents of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) broke into more than three school lodges at the South Gate community and made an unlawful arrest of our students, destroyed properties, molested a female student and inhumanly inflicted injuries on some other students.

“Recall that on 1st November, 2023, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Executive Chairman of the Commission, directed that sting operations at night be stopped in all the Commands of the EFCC.

“To this effect, all operations at nights are tagged as illegal and not directives from the commands of EFCC but these agents of EFCC have breached the directives of their chairman and also trampled on the Right to life which our students possess as Nigerians”

He further stated,“While we are making immense efforts to recover our students back on campus, we want to state that this sudden arrest is unlawful, illegal, and an insult to the Executive Chairman of EFCC whose directive was breached.

“We have disheartening security issues that the Federal Government needs to help us attend to, but the EFCC decided to add to our security threats. Again, Nigeria has failed us.

“It is imperative for all students to remain calm, sober, and cooperate with us during this struggle. We understand that this situation may raise concerns, and we will strive to keep you informed of any developments.

“Your safety and well-being are our top priorities, and we will fight diligently to ensure a smooth and orderly process throughout this investigation.”

Similarly, the management of the institution, through the Director of Corporate Communication, Adegbenro Adebanjo, said that the operation took place at private hostels in the Orita Obele area of Akure metropolis where some students of the institution reside.

In a statement, Adebanjo said that “contrary to some false reports making the round, the operatives of EFCC did not invade FUTA, and there was no operation whatsoever within the hostels or precincts of the University. The incident in question happened in private hostels off campus.

“However, the university expresses strong reservations about the timing and mode of the operation said to have taken place around 2 a.m. on Wednesday, February 14, 2024.

“Reports indicate that the operatives barged in and violently woke sleeping students and treated them most unfairly in the course of the operation.

“Such patently dangerous tactics should not have been employed by the operatives. The process should always follow due process without causing harm or injuries to anybody physically or psychologically.

“Indeed but for providence something untoward could have happened in the course of the operation carried out in the off-campus hostels.

“The University is in touch with the EFCC to ascertain the identity of those arrested and validate their studentship, as well as to ensure that innocent FUTA students are not punished for offences they have not committed.

“FUTA abhors all forms of anti-social practices including acts of criminality in all its forms and supports all initiatives to bring perpetrators to face the consequences of their actions within the ambits of the law.

“The University rules and regulations as contained in the Student Code of Conduct as stipulated in the University Handbook and the Oath of Matriculation, which all students are made to sign, specifically prescribe varying degrees of punishment for students who run afoul of the laws governing their studentship or engage in illegal acts or odious behavior.

Adebanjo added that “the Handbook will guide the university in the current situation.