In the early hours of Saturday, operatives from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) conducted a controversial midnight operation at private hostels of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, resulting in the arrest of an undisclosed number of students.
The raid, reported by The Spectacles, took place in the Kwakwalawa and Gidan Yaro communities located within the university campus. Eyewitnesses claim that dozens of students were apprehended during the operation.
One student, who identified himself simply as Abdul, described the scene as chaotic and alarming. “It was like a scene from a movie. We thought they were kidnappers at first, but then we saw the EFCC logo on their vests,” he said. Abdul also alleged that the EFCC operatives did not provide any explanation or present arrest warrants.
Another student, speaking anonymously, condemned the raid, stating, “This is unacceptable in a civilized society. We demand answers from the EFCC. What were they looking for? Why did they arrest our colleagues?”
Attempts to reach the school’s Public Relations Officer, Ismaila Muhammad, were unsuccessful as his phone was unreachable at the time of reporting. However, a senior university official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that more than 40 students were initially detained. He noted that after preliminary investigations, 30 students had been released, while 10 remained in EFCC custody.
When contacted, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale confirmed the arrests but disputed several details of the incident. He stated that only 13 students were apprehended, all of whom are suspected of involvement in internet fraud. He also clarified that the operation did not take place on campus. “We don’t conduct raids. The word ‘raid’ implies the use of force, which is not our practice. What we carry out are sting operations, which are globally accepted methods for making arrests,” Oyewale explained.
The incident has sparked outrage among students, who are demanding clarity and transparency regarding the reasons behind the arrests. As the situation unfolds, tensions between students and authorities continue to escalate.
