Multiple sources in Ile-Ife verified to Chronicle NG on
Wednesday morning that the officers attacked the Fine Touch and Superb hostels
in Oduduwa Estate, Ile-Ife, broke into rooms, and arrested the students about 2
a.m.
As of time of writing this report, the reasons for the
arrest had not been confirmed, but the Students’ Union President, Abass Ojo,
stated that the union had data of “72 students picked up from the hostel with
phones and cars taken away.”
Joy Abiola, a former union officer, informed our Chronicle
NG that the students were beaten.
“The EFCC officials came between 1:40 a.m and 4:00 a.m. Only
students stay in those hostels,” Joy said, adding, “How can you arrest people
for owning iPhones, laptops, and cars?”
Another student, identified simply as Ewatee, said, “Female
students were among those picked up. Even some fresh students who just went to
greet their senior colleagues were arrested. The approach is wrong.”
Several young people reported to be students from the hostel
were marched into a white Hummer bus, according to a video shared with
Chronicle NG by one of the students, with some security officers striking them
and demanding they hurry and enter swiftly.
In another video, roughly six cars can be seen driving
beside the white Hummer bus. According to the students, the operatives were
leaving Ile-Ife and heading to Ibadan.
When contacted, Olumide Egbodofo, the head of the EFCC‘s
Public Affairs Department for the Ibadan Zonal Command, stated an update on the
situation will be provided.
“A press statement will be released regarding that soon,”
the spokesperson added.
Also, the phone line of the university’s spokesperson,
Abiodun Olarewaju, was unreachable as of press time.