In an unprecedented turn of events, students and staff of the Federal College of Forestry in Ibadan, Oyo State, reportedly held seven operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) hostage.
The dramatic incident unfolded during a routine verification exercise, raising questions about security and law enforcement in the region.
The EFCC, through an official statement on its website, revealed that its operatives from the Ibadan Zonal Command were conducting a standard surety verification exercise on Tuesday.
The state member added that the exercise aimed to authenticate the address and identity of Azeez Kazeem Oluwakemi, who had stood as a surety for Alakinde Khalid Kolawole, a suspected internet fraudster in EFCC custody.
This operation, while routine, took an unexpected turn. According to the EFCC statement, students and staff of the college launched a wave of attacks against the EFCC operatives, who were simply carrying out their authorized assignment.
The statement furthered that this occurred despite the fact that the college community had been duly informed about the mission.
According to EFCC, the situation escalated when the Student Union President, along with other students and staff, initiated a violent confrontation with the EFCC personnel.
“The college’s Student Union President, in concert with his colleagues and some staff of the institution, reportedly ignited a violent confrontation with operatives of the EFCC.
“Two main entrance gates to the college were barricaded with a car believed to be owned by one of the lecturers of the college.
“The bus that conveyed operatives to the college was vandalized, even as students and staff of the college threw stones and dangerous objects at the vehicle.
“A rescue team that came successfully released the seven operatives held hostage by the riotous crowd,” it stated.
Remarkably, the EFCC said that its operatives displayed restraint in the face of this unprovoked attack and refrained from using force against the aggressors.
The EFCC emphasized that no student or staff member was injured by firearms, as the armed operatives had fired into the air to disperse the unruly crowd.
The Commission assured the public that it would continue to carry out its duties in line with its mandate and emphasized that unprovoked attacks on its personnel would no longer be tolerated.