Officials from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) reportedly apprehended more than 70 students at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

The arrests occurred in hostels located outside the campus.

Multiple sources within Ile-Ife confirmed these events early on Wednesday morning. Around 2 a.m., EFCC officials purportedly descended upon the Fine Touch and Superb hostels in Oduduwa Estate, Ile-Ife.

They allegedly forcibly entered rooms and took the students into custody.

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As of the time of reporting, the specific reasons for the arrests had not been officially confirmed.

However, Abass Ojo, the Students’ Union President, claimed that the union had information about “72 students picked up from the hostel with phones and cars taken away.”

Joy Abiola, a former union official, reported that some of the students were subjected to physical violence during the operation. “The EFCC officials came between 1:40 a.m and 4:00 a.m.

Only students stay in those hostels. How can you arrest people for owning iPhones, laptops, and cars?” she questioned.

Another student, identified as Ewatee, expressed concerns about the operation’s approach, noting that female students and even freshers who were merely visiting senior colleagues were among those arrested.

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A video recorded by one of the students showed several young individuals, presumed to be students, being escorted into a white Hummer Bus.

The footage depicted security officials instructing them to board quickly, with some using physical force.

Additional footage captured multiple vehicles, including the white Hummer Bus, in motion. The students claimed that the officials were leaving the Ile-Ife area and heading towards Ibadan.

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When contacted for comment, Olumide Egbodofo, the head of Public Affairs Department for the EFCC’s Ibadan Zonal Command, stated that an official statement regarding the incident would be released soon.

Efforts to reach the university’s spokesperson, Abiodun Olarewaju, were unsuccessful at the time of this report.