FUTA makes clarification On Where EFCC Invaded and Arrested Students but Condemns the Gestapo Mode Adopted
By Emmanuel Uffot
The management of Federal University of Technology Akure ( FUTA), Ondo State has made clarification on where some students were arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC).
The clarification, we gathered became necessary following earlier reports that the operatives of the anti- graft agency, had invaded the male hostel of the University in campus and arrested scores of students by 2am.
Making the clarification on behalf of the management of the school, Mr Adegbenro Adenajo, Director of Communications said even as the management’s attention had been drawn to the development, but that contrary to the reports going round that the operatives carried out the arrest in male hostels inside the campus, the said invasion and arrest rather took place off – campus in private hostels occupied by students in the Orita Obele area of Akure metropolis.
” The attention of FUTA has been drawn to an incident involving some operatives of EFCC who raided some private hostels in the Orita Obele area of Akure metropolis where some students of the University resides.
” Contrary to some false reports making the rounds, the operatives of the EFCC did not invade FUTA and there was no operation whatsoever within the hostels or precincts of the University. The incident in question happened in private hostels off campus “.
The University spokesman said the school management, however condemns in strong terms the mode of the invasion and the timing. Adebanjo stressed that operations leading to arrest by the anti- graft agency, should always follow due process to avoid causing injuries.
Adebanjo again ” The University expresses strong reservation about the timing and mode of operation said to have taken place around 2am on Wednesday February 14, 2024.
” Reports indicate that the operatives barged in and violently woke sleeping students. Such patently dangerous tactics should not have been employed by the operatives. The process should always follow due process without causing harm or injuries”.
The Director of Communications however reiterated the position of the University which abhors any wrong doing bothering on criminality by any student. He stressed that the school supports all efforts to stamp out criminality among students through bringing perpetrators of crime to justice, but it should be done under the ambit of the law.
He further noted that the school is in touch with EFCC, to determine the true identity of those arrested and their status of involvement in the alleged crime to ensure that the innocent students are not unjustly punished.
Adebanjo said, all students during their matriculation are given the University Handbook which contains rules and regulations and respective sanctions if flouted.
Speaking in the same vein, the President of Student Union of FUTA Olayemi Oluwasoromidayo described the invasion and arrest of the students off campus as illegal and unlawful.
He criticised the mode adopted EFCC in carrying out their operation which he said ran contrary to the position of the agency chairman whom he claimed had banned midnight invasion and arrest by its operatives.
The Student Union leader the operatives of the agency had broken into ” more than 3 student lodges at the South Gate community and made unlawful arrest of students, destroyed properties, molested students and inflicted injuries on some students”.
However the EFCC has made its position known on the matter.
According to a release by the Head of Media and Publicity of the anti-graft agency Dele Oyewale, the students numbering 14 and 19 others for suspected internet crimes by the Benin Zonal Command of EFCC.
Confirming the position of FUTA’s spokesman Adebanjo, he said the suspects were arrested at different residential locations within Akure metropolis following intelligence reports on their nefarious activities.
” Specifically, the sting operation that led to their arrest was a response to strident calls to the EFCC by neighbours and parents around the locations, to save their children from being lured into internet related activities by the suspects”.
Oyewale listed items recovered from the suspects as ” 10 exotic cars, phones, laptops and one motorcycle”.
He stated that investigations are ongoing, and the suspects would be charged to court on conclusion.
FUTA which is one of the prominent Federal University of Technology on Nigeria is said to have zero tolerance to cultism and other nefarious activities by students of the school.
There are indications that any of the students arrested and found culpable, may also receive sanction by the school.
