Operatives of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission allegedly broke into the off-campus lodges of Nasarawa State University, Keffi students at Angwa Karim Area and allegedly arrested over three yet-to-be-identified residents.
Some students told our correspondent, on Monday, that the men jumped into their compound as early as 2 a.m., and invaded their privacy by disrupting their sleep for a perceived illegal operation.
It was reported on November 1, 2023, that the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, ordered that sting operations at night be stopped under all the commission’s commands.
Olukoyede gave the directive in Abuja, in reaction to the arrest of 69 suspected Internet fraudsters in Ile-Ife, Osun State, by operatives of the Ibadan zonal command of the EFCC.
Our correspondent gathered from NSUK students, who alleged that the EFCC operatives vandalised their lodge property and arrested over three occupants after coercing everyone to submit their mobile phones for assessment of activities on their various social network apps for fraud surveillance.
According to a student, Roland Oba, it was a terrifying moment because it was late, noting that it was not the first time the EFCC was raiding students’ lodges. He said three students were arrested in his lodge.
“This morning around 2am, some EFCC and police officers vandalised the barbed wires and jumped into the compound through the fence. They destroyed our gate padlock, and they kicked the doors of our rooms with their legs. Our window nets were torn by them so they could survey who was inside.
“They collected my phone and went through it three times; when they did not find anything incriminating on the social apps, they left my room. These men trooped in their numbers and were equipped with tools used to break doors. I am not sure if it is only this lodge, but three boys were handcuffed and nabbed,” Roland said.
Another student, who identified himself as Timi, lamented that those operatives were not professional in their raid and recounted how they harassed students in his lodge.
“It was not my lodge; I came there to visit a friend, so I slept over. They came to our window and instructed me to open the door. So, I queried them, and they responded that they were police officers. I wondered why they would come to my window and tell me to open my door. I also flashed my torchlight into their faces.
“They kept banging on my door until I opened it, then started harassing everyone in the room and asked us to unlock our phones. They checked my phone, and when they could not find anything, they left. Another set of people came and asked for our phones, which I gave them.
“For the third time, it was the EFCC operatives that came themselves, so a man I viewed as their superior asked for my phone, which I gave him.
They even harassed some girls, and said they were not aware that it was a ladies’ room. No search warrant was presented, now I heard they have taken those arrested students to Abuja,” Timi said.
When contacted, the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, claimed he was not aware of the operation and promised to get back to our correspondent, but did not as of the time of filing this report.
“I have not been briefed, I will find out and get back to you,” Oyewale assured our correspondent.
