The Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) reported on Tuesday that a group of its operatives encountered hostilities and were briefly held by students and staff at the Federal College of Forestry in Idi-shin Estate during a routine verification operation.
According to a statement by Dele Oyewale, the Commission’s Head of Media and Publicity, the operatives were at the college to confirm the address and identity of a surety, Azeez Kazeem Oluwakemi, who had vouched for Alakinde Khalid Kolawole, a suspect in their custody, facing allegations of internet fraud.
Oyewale clarified that surety verification is a standard procedure aimed at ensuring that bail conditions for a suspect are adhered to.
The statement added that, despite prior notification to the college community about the EFCC’s purpose, students and staff at the institution responded with hostility and violence. The College’s Student Union President, along with other students and staff, reportedly initiated a confrontation with the EFCC operatives.
“The situation escalated further as two main entrance gates to the college were blocked by a vehicle believed to belong to one of the college’s lecturers. The bus transporting the EFCC operatives was vandalised, and students and staff hurled stones and dangerous objects at the vehicle.
“A rescue team managed to free the seven operatives who were held by the agitated crowd. Notably, the EFCC operatives displayed restraint and refrained from using force against the attackers. Instead, they fired warning shots into the air to disperse the crowd, ensuring no students or staff were harmed during the incident,” the commission stated.
Oyewale emphasised that the Commission remains committed to executing its mandated responsibilities while making it clear that unprovoked attacks against EFCC personnel will no longer be tolerated.
