…Bans Sting Operations At Night
Abdulazeez Abdulwahab
THE Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday released 58 out of 69 students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, earlier arrested over suspected internet fraud.
Earlier in the day, the anti-graft agency arrested the students in a midnight raid on hostels outside the campus. According to the Commission, they were nabbed at Oduduwa Estate area of Ile-Ife following “actionable intelligence” on their suspected involvement in fraudulent internet-related activities.
The release is also coming on the heels of the banning of sting operations at night. The Commission’s Head, Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, in a statement, said the action is in line with the newly-reviewed procedures on arrest and bail of suspects.
He said 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.
According to him, Mr Olukoyede gave the directive in Abuja on Wednesday, 1 November 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.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Coordinator for South-West, John Alao confirmed the students’ release.
Prior to their release, OAU students had stormed the EFCC office in Ibadan, decrying their schoolmates’ arrest.
The protesting students carried various placards, expressing disappointment at the action of the anti-graft agency. Some of the inscriptions on the placards read, “I am a medical student, not a Yahoo boy,” “Why remove the CCTV cameras if you are armed robbers,” and “Criminals trying to arrest criminals,” among others.
At the EFCC Ibadan office, operatives of the anti-graft Commission had barricaded their premises with watertight security. Despite the tight presence of security officials, the OAU students were calling on the leadership of the commission to attend to them.
Eighteen-Eleven Media