EFCC raids Nasarawa student accommodation, arrests three

Agents of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission reportedly broke into the off-campus lodges of Nasarawa State University, Keffi students in Angwa Karim area and arrested more than 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 disturbing their sleep in an operation perceived as illegal.

PUNCH Metro reported on November 1, 2023 that the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, had ordered that nighttime undercover operations be stopped under all commands of the commission.

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 claimed that EFCC operatives vandalized their lodge property and arrested over three occupants after forcing everyone to submit their mobile phones to assess activities on their various apps social networks for fraud monitoring purposes.

According to a student, Roland Oba, it was a terrifying moment as it was late, pointing out that it was not the first time the EFCC had raided student residences. He said three students were arrested in his dressing room.

“This morning, around 2am, operatives of the EFCC and the police vandalized the barbed wire and jumped into the compound through the fence. They destroyed the padlock on our gate and kicked in our bedroom doors. They tore down our mosquito nets so they could monitor who was inside.

“They took my phone and went through it three times; not having found anything incriminating on social apps, they left my room. These men were numerous and were equipped with tools used to break down doors. I don’t know if it’s just this lodge, but three boys were handcuffed and arrested,” Roland said.

Another student, who identified himself as Timi, lamented that these agents were unprofessional in their raid and narrated how they harassed the students in his dressing room.

“It wasn’t my dressing room; I came there to visit a friend, so I stayed at my place. They came to our window and asked me to open the door. So I asked them and they told me they were police officers. I wondered why they came to my window and told me to open my door. I also shined my flashlight in their faces.

“They kept knocking on my door until I opened it, then they started harassing everyone in the room and asking us to unlock our phones. They checked my phone and finding nothing, they left. Another group of people came and asked for our phones, which I gave them.

“For the third time, it was the EFCC agents who came themselves, so a man I considered their superior asked me for my phone, which I gave him. They even harassed some girls and said they didn’t know it was a women’s restroom. No search warrant was presented, I have now learned that they took these 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 had not done so at the time of writing of this report.

“I have not been briefed, I will find out and I will respond to you,” Oyewale assured our correspondent.