The university’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, stated that OAU would not provide protection for anyone involved in criminal activities. However, he emphasized that the rights of the innocent would also be safeguarded.
The authorities at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, have responded to the report of the arrest of some students by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on allegations of their involvement in internet fraud.
The EFCC had confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday that they arrested 69 individuals suspected of engaging in fraudulent internet activities.
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Dele Oyewale, the EFCC spokesperson, confirmed over the phone that 69 suspects had been arrested for suspected internet fraudulent activities in the early hours of Wednesday at Oduduwa estate, Ile-Ife, in Osun State.
“We arrested 69 suspects at Oduduwa estate, Ile-Ife, who we suspect to be involved in fraudulent internet activities. We will commence our investigation, and if they are found guilty, we will press charges against them in court,” Mr. Oyewale stated.
In response to an inquiry from this newspaper about the status of those arrested, Abiodun Olarewaju, the Public Relations Officer of OAU, stated that the university would safeguard the interests of innocent students. He also expressed the university’s commitment to cooperating with the anti-graft agency to ensure the successful prosecution of anyone found guilty.
Arrest of students
The arrest of the suspects circulated on Wednesday morning on the microblogging platform, leading to the creation of the hashtag #FreeOAUStudents.
According to many of the posts, EFCC officials conducted a raid on some student hostels located off-campus at Oduduwa estate during the early hours of Wednesday.
Those who were arrested were reported to be students of OAU. However, it’s worth noting that there are other tertiary institutions in the vicinity, including the privately owned Oduduwa University, Ile-Ife.
NANS reacts
In response to the situation, the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students issued a statement condemning the actions of the EFCC.
The statement, signed by Ogungbe Adedamola, Chairman of the Osun State Axis of the Joint Campus Committee of NANS, described the arrests as an “unlawful invasion of the students’ hostels.”
NANS accused the EFCC of kidnapping over 80 students and emphasized that such an unlawful act by the EFCC should be condemned by all Nigerians.
Mr. Adedamola expressed the students’ body’s determination to mobilize students for a peaceful protest at the EFCC zonal headquarters in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State.
The statement reads in part; โIt is disheartening to witness the EFCC focuses its attention on students who have come to Ife with the sole purpose of receiving quality education to improve their lives and contribute positively to society while leaving untouched the politicians who have played a significant role in bringing our country to the brink of destructionโ.
NANS said โit wonโt tolerate any form of illegal act when it involves its members,โ while also stating that it stands firmly in support of โthe kidnapped students and want to reassure the general public and all our members throughout the state that we are committed to seeking justice and advocating for the safe release of our students.โ
โThe actions of these uniformed criminals have invoked the ire of Nigerian students, and we are prepared to respond accordingly. We, as a lawful association representing Nigerian students, are deeply concerned about the actions of uniformed criminals, which have ignited our anger.โ
OAU reacts
The universityโs spokesman, Mr Olarewaju, in a telephone interview with PREMIUM TIMES, said he was on his way to EFCCโs office in Ibadan in company of the institutionโs chief security officer to ascertain the true state of the matter.
Mr Olarewaju said: โI am on my way to Ibadan with the acting CSO. We want to go and ascertain the number of our students that were arrested. We donโt want to be under the illution that all those that were arrested are all our students. We believe that even though the students are living outside the campus, they are still our students, and one of the principles of the present university administration is that whether off or on campus, every student is our child and we are treating them accordingly.
โSo the welfare of these young ones is paramount in our heart and that is why we are going physically to the zonal office of the EFCC to know who our students are, to profile them, their names and departments and the part they are in. We will report to the management our findings.โ
Mr Olarewaju said the university will not shield anyone who engages in criminal activities but that the right of the innocent ones will also be protected.