OAU VC comforts students over EFCC midnight raid
The Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Professor Simeon Onabanire, has comforted students of the institution after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) carried out a midnight raid on two off-campus hostels, arresting 72 students. The anti-graft agency has released 59 of the arrested students and set to prosecute 11 others for their alleged involvement in cybercrime.
In his statement, Professor Onabamire explained that following the raid the institution’s management liaised with the EFCC, Ibadan zone’s office. The VC urged the anti-graft agency “to partner with the management of various Institutions of higher learning to organise workshops for students across faculties to sensitise the students about the danger of financial crimes and cyber criminalities.”
“The Vice Chancellor, therefore, appealed to students who were victims of the raid to put the experience behind them and move on with their lives. He lauded other students who rallied round their affected colleagues for being their brothers’ keepers without being violent nor exhibiting any act of vandalism,” according to the statement.
In its response to the public backlash that greeted the midnight raid, the EFCC said it has banned its officials from carrying out late night sting operations. The EFCC said, “In line with the newly-reviewed procedures on arrest and bail of suspects, 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.”
