The management of the Federal College of Forestry in Ibadan has ordered the immediate shutdown of the school after the clash between staff and students of the institution and some operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
There was pandemonium in the college on Tuesday after some officials of the anti-graft agency were allegedly detained by students.
Speaking about the incident, the EFFC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale said, “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.”
He continued that the operatives were at 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”.
“For some inscrutable reasons, students and staff of the college went on a frenzy of attacks against operatives of the EFCC, who were on an authorised assignment,” it added.
Dele stressed that“This is in spite of the fact that the college community was duly informed about the mission of the EFCC’s team. The college’s Student Union President, in concert with his colleagues and some staff of the institution, reportedly ignited violent confrontation with operatives of the EFCC.
“Two main entrance gates to the college were barricaded with a car believed to be owned by one of the lecturers of the college. The bus that conveyed operatives to the college was vandalised, even as students and staff of the college threw stones and dangerous objects at the vehicle.”
Oyewale said it took a rescue team of seven operatives to free the EFCC personnel allegedly held hostage by the crowd.
He added, “The commission wishes to assure the public that it will continue to perform its duties in line with its mandate and that unprovoked attacks against personnel of the commission will no longer be tolerated.”
Following the clash, the management of the institution in a circular dated October 25th ordered the immediate suspension of academic activities.
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