The Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife, Osun State, Prof. Simeon Bamire,has urged students harmed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) raid on a few off-campus hostels along Ife/Ibadan Road to move on from the incident.
In the early hours of Wednesday, EFCC agents broke into dorms in Oduduwa Estate, Ile-Ife and took 69 university students into custody.
The students were taken to the Ibadan Zonal Office of the commission and detained.
However, 59 of them were freed on Wednesday after efforts of the school’s authorities, parents and guardians.
Giving an update on the matter on Thursday, the Vice Chancellor, in a statement by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olanrewaju, commended the EFCC for the quick profiling and release of the students.
The statement reads: “After a spirited effort by the management of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, which sent representatives to the Ibadan zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to intervene in the case of arrested students, the EFCC has released 59 of the students.
“While thanking the officials of the EFCC for the quick profiling and eventual release of the students in less than 24 hours, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Simeon Bamire urged the EFCC 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.”
