Why EFCC go dey break into over 78 rooms for midnight?
On November 2, 2023, students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, stormed the Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to demand the release of their colleagues who were arrested in a midnight raid.
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The students, who came in three Coaster buses and three Hummer buses, carried placards with inscriptions such as “EFCC stop harassing our students,” “Release our colleagues now,” and “We say no to illegal arrest and detention.”
The EFCC had raided hostels outside the OAU campus, including Fine Touch and Superb hostels in the Oduduwa Estate, Ile-Ife, on the night of November 1, 2023, and arrested over 78 students. The students’ union alleged that the EFCC operatives broke into rooms and beat up the students during the raid.
The students’ union president, Akinremi Ojo, condemned the EFCC’s actions and demanded the immediate release of his colleagues. He said that the students were innocent and had not committed any crime.
“We are here to demand the immediate release of our colleagues who were illegally arrested by the EFCC,” Ojo said. “The EFCC has no right to break into people’s rooms in the middle of the night and arrest them without a warrant.”
The students also accused the EFCC of profiling OAU students. They said that the EFCC had been targeting OAU students in recent months and arresting them on flimsy charges.
“The EFCC is profiling OAU students,” Ojo said. “They think that all OAU students are involved in internet fraud. This is not true. The majority of OAU students are hard-working and law-abiding citizens.”
The students’ protest lasted for several hours. They refused to leave the EFCC office until their colleagues were released. Eventually, the EFCC agreed to release 58 of the students. The remaining students are still in custody.
The students’ union has vowed to continue protesting until all of their colleagues are released. They have also called on the Nigerian government to intervene and protect the rights of OAU students.
Why is the EFCC targeting OAU students?
There are a few possible reasons why the EFCC has been targeting OAU students in recent months. One possibility is that the EFCC believes that OAU is a hotbed of internet fraud. OAU is one of the most prestigious universities in Nigeria, and it attracts students from all over the country. The EFCC may believe that the university’s large student population and its proximity to major cities make it a prime target for internet fraudsters.
Another possibility is that the EFCC is targeting OAU students because of their activism. OAU students have a long history of activism and have been involved in protests against government corruption and other social issues. The EFCC may be trying to intimidate and silence OAU students by targeting them for arrest.
Whatever the reason for the EFCC’s targeting of OAU students, it is clear that the students are being harassed and intimidated. The EFCC’s actions are a violation of the students’ human rights and should be condemned.
What can be done to protect the rights of OAU students?
There are a number of things that can be done to protect the rights of OAU students. First, the Nigerian government needs to investigate the EFCC’s targeting of OAU students and take action to ensure that the students’ rights are protected. Second, the EFCC needs to reform its practices and stop harassing and intimidating innocent students. Third, the OAU student union needs to continue to raise awareness of the issue and mobilize students to defend their rights.
The students of OAU are the future of Nigeria. They deserve to be protected from harassment and intimidation. The Nigerian government, the EFCC, and the OAU student union all have a role to play in protecting the rights of OAU students.