Students from the Federal Polytechnic in Ede, Osun State, were allegedly kidnapped by members of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), according to the Osun axis of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Joint Campus Committee.
During a nocturnal assault on the students’ dorms, EFCC agents from the Ibadan Zonal office allegedly invaded Ede and arrested them.
In a joint statement signed by Taiwo Ogungbe and Farouq Afolabi, the union asserted that a number of students were apprehended and taken to Ibadan, Oyo State, by EFCC agents during a night raid on the Osun axis.
The student group called for the quick release of all individuals arrested and condemned the incident simultaneously.
If the agency did not comply with their demand, NANS will be forced to take action, they threatened.
“The leadership of NANS JCC Osun Axis, in the utmost display of solidarity, denounces the reprehensible actions of EFCC officers who abducted our students in Ede overnight,” it also said.
Because of the EFCC’s history, students and Nigerians remained skeptical despite the chairman’s assurances in news releases and on television that the agency would not conduct raids at night.
Sadly, a nighttime attack on another school was carried out by persons wearing EFCC uniforms less than one month thereafter.
The EFCC has not yet succeeded in apprehending these kidnappers.
“Indeed, our kids were kidnapped in Ede last night and taken to Ibadan, where the EFCC’s Zonal headquarters are located, where they frequently punish innocent Nigerians.
All of our students must be released immediately; we strongly denounce this act. Students will be forced to perform things that the agency might not approve of if this is not addressed.
The fact that these students, whose mental health is likely suffering from the trauma they have endured, are taking examinations at the same time as this is deeply disturbing. We call on President Bola Tinubu to step in and secure the immediate release of our students on behalf of all law-abiding Nigerians.
On Thursday, Federal Polytechnic Ede’s administration stated that it had not yet verified the students’ identities, despite reports that the EFCC had detained them.
Additionally, the institution verified that the anti-graft agency conducted a sting operation in the town, identifying the Owode-Ede area as the site of the raid.
However, according to a statement issued by Sola Lawal, the school’s public relations officer, the administration has not received any communication from the EFCC regarding the arrest or the kids’ involvement.
An online story claiming that agents from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had allegedly arrested students at Federal Polytechnic Ede in Osun State has caught the eye of the school’s administration.
“We have not yet determined the identity of people who were allegedly captured by the security agency, but it is vital that the general public be informed that the raid in question took place at Owode-Ede. Furthermore, the EFCC has not yet contacted us to confirm or refute the aforementioned arrest or our students’ involvement.
“In light of this, we would like to strongly encourage the polytechnic community and the general public to maintain their composure. Rest assured, the management will diligently keep them apprised of any additional developments,” the message partially said.