College shut down after EFCC operatives clashed with staff and students in Ibadan

The Federal College of Forestry in Ibadan has been shut down by the management of the institution until further notice.

The institution was shut down over the clash that occurred between the staff and students of the institution and some operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

It was gathered that there was confusion at Idi-Isin, Jericho, Aleshinloye Market and neighbouring areas in Ibadan on Tuesday as some operatives of EFCC invaded the college.

A source said the EFCC operatives entered the college intending to arrest a student suspected of being involved in cyber crime.

The source, who begged not to be named, added that the EFCC operatives, in the process of arresting the student, started shooting sporadically.

The source noted that some students decided to resist the move by the EFCC and in the process, a student whose name has not been revealed was shot.

He added that this led to confusion in the college and other neighbouring areas such as Idi-Isin, Jericho and Aleshinloye Market.

The source on Wednesday said, “I am telling you the fact. This is the truth of the matter, but don’t mention my name. The EFCC went there to arrest one student whom they suspected to be involved in Yahoo Yahoo. But, when they want to arrest the guy, they started shooting sporadically. A student was shot. It is not good at all.”

Another staff of the college described the invasion of the college by the EFCC operatives as shameful.

“They invade the college and they are shooting seriously. This is the shoot out that happened in FCF college. It is highly shameful seeing unprofessional acts being perpetrated by EFCC officials today. Shooting in an academic campus as if there’s war going on just like Hamas and Israel. I hope the management of FRIN/FCF will not sweep this under carpet.”

In a statement released Wednesday on the official Facebook page of the Commission, the operatives were on a routine verification exercise on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, when the attack happened.

According to the EFCC, the operatives were on the premises to affirm the “address and identity of one Oluwakemi, who stood as a surety for Alakinde Khalid Kolawole, a suspected internet fraudster in the custody of the Commission.”

The statement titled ‘Unprovoked Attack on EFCC Operatives in Ibadan: Call for Caution’, read, “Seven operatives of the Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on routine verification exercise of a surety: Azeez Kazeem Oluwakemi were, on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, attacked and held hostage by staff and students of the Federal College of Forestry, Idi-shin Estate, Ibadan, Oyo State.

“The operatives were in the college to authenticate the address and identity of Oluwakemi, who stood as a surety for Alakinde Khalid Kolawole, a suspected internet fraudster in the custody of the Commission. A surety verification exercise is a standard law enforcement practice for the perfection of the bail conditions of a suspect.

“This fact occasioned the mission of EFCC’s operatives at the college.”

Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer of the college, Mr Kehinde Olawale, said that the college had been closed as a result of the incident.

Olawale made these declarations during a telephone conversation with DAILY POST on Wednesday.

He said: “The school has been closed to douse tension. We have gone to Eleyele Police Station to complain. We have sent a circular to the students.

“What we have decided to do now is close down the school. We don’t want to see any student for now; this was done to douse the tension.”

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