The authorities of Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Osun State, have officially confirmed the release of some of the university’s students who were apprehended by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operatives at their hostels on Wednesday.
Abiodun Olanrewaju, the university’s Public Relations Officer, provided this information when speaking to the press on Wednesday evening. However, he mentioned that 10 students are still being held by the anti-graft agency at its Ibadan zonal office.
The students were taken into custody in their dormitories situated in Oduduwa Estate along the Ibadan/Ife road during the early hours of Wednesday.
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Olanrewaju further explained that the students who were released have been returned to the university’s management and some of their parents. As for those who remain detained, they are allegedly facing charges that require their attention.
He stated, “We are currently en route from Ibadan to Ile-Ife. The students have been released to us, the university management, along with their parents who were present at the Commission’s office this evening. However, 10 of those arrested are still in custody, as they are deemed to have significant matters to address. We are on our way back, and I will provide more information on this matter tomorrow. Thank you.”
Prior to this update, the OAU management had disclosed that a delegation from the university had visited the Ibadan zonal office of the EFCC to gather information about those apprehended during the early morning raid on some hostels located off-campus.
Speaking with The PUNCH, Olanrewaju emphasized, “We are fully aware that there may be students among our midst who engage in inappropriate activities. We do not operate under the assumption that all our students are involved in criminal activities. Our concern is to prevent the innocent ones from suffering. At this moment, we are en route to Ibadan to ascertain the exact number of our students who were arrested, and we will profile them. Following this, we will report to the university’s management, and subsequently, decide on the appropriate course of action.”
In response to the situation on the campus after the raid, Olanrewaju noted, “The environment remains peaceful. It is important to note that the students were not arrested on the university campus but rather at various hostels outside the campus. Nevertheless, we will not overlook our students’ welfare just because they were apprehended off-campus. We are presently on our way to the EFCC’s Zonal Office in Ibadan to address this matter.”