Some of the 58 Students of the Obafemi Awolowo University released by the Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC hours after their arrest have shared their experience.
In a now trending video posted by OAUBLOG, a cross-section of the freed students spoke with the medium.
The anti-graft agency had in the early hours of Wednesday November 1, raided two hostels at Oduduwa Estate in Ile-Ife and whisked away 69 persons for suspected internet fraud.
The EFCC later in a statement confirmed the release of 58 persons while also announcing the banning of sting operations at night across its commands nationwide.
"With the newly-reviewed procedures on arrest and bail of suspects by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the Executive Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Ola Olukoyede has directed that sting operations at night time be stopped in all the Commands of the EFCC
He gave the directive in Abuja on Wednesday, November 1, 2023 in reaction to the arrest of 69 suspected internet fraudsters by operatives of the Ibadan Zonal of the Commission in Ile-Ife, Osun State. Already, many of the suspects duly profiled by the Command have been released, while profiling of suspects yet un-released will be completed, without further delay.
The Commission wishes to assure the public that it will not relent in its adherence to the rule of law, in the exercise of its mandate."
The action by the agency has however been described by the students leadership at the institution as illegal and a breach of their safety.
A statement jointly signed by Abbas Akinremi Ojo (President) Omisore Elijah O. (Relations Officer) and Akinboni Opeyemi (Secretary-General) of the Great Ife Students Union, condemned the arrest, expressing a disapproval over the manner it was conducted.
"The leadership of the union strongly condemns the unlawful incarceration of our colleagues by the EFCC. We frown on the abduction of our own, and urge you, Greatest IFE, to be vociferous in your disapproval of the unlawful actions of the commission. An injury to one is an injury to all, and the kidnap and assault of 69 of our students are equivalent to the defilement of our union and our rights as Nigerian students.
We also demanded that the EFCC tender a public release clearing the names of the unlawfully incarcerated of their unfounded allegations published on their media handles and broadcast to the whole country in which the earlier published posts had already been pulled down across all their social media platforms.
We cannot stand by and watch as the calamitously misguided commission soils the names of innocent students and settle for their release as a victory. We will take every necessary step to insure the absolute vindication of our students.", the statement read in part.
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