In a troubling turn of events, a routine verification exercise carried out by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Ibadan, Oyo State, turned violent on October 24, 2023, when EFCC operatives were unexpectedly confronted, attacked, and held hostage by students and staff of the Federal College of Forestry, Idi-shin Estate.
The mission of the EFCC operatives was straightforward: they were at the college to confirm the surety status of Azeez Kazeem Oluwakemi, who had vouched for a suspected internet fraudster in the Commission’s custody. Surety verification exercises are a common practice in law enforcement, aimed at ensuring suspects meet bail conditions as required by the law.
Despite prior notice and communication with the college community regarding the EFCC’s visit, students and staff reacted with hostility towards the law enforcement officers. It has been reported that the college’s Student Union President, in collaboration with fellow students and some college staff, initiated a violent confrontation with the EFCC operatives. Two entrance gates to the college were blocked with a car, purportedly owned by one of the college’s lecturers, and the bus used to transport the operatives was vandalized. To make matters worse, students and staff began pelting the EFCC vehicle with stones and other dangerous objects.
A rescue team eventually managed to free the seven EFCC operatives who were held against their will by the hostile crowd. Notably, the EFCC personnel showed restraint throughout the incident and refrained from using force against their attackers. It is important to highlight that no students or college staff were harmed, as the armed operatives discharged warning shots into the air to disperse the unruly crowd.
The EFCC has reiterated its commitment to fulfilling its mandate within the confines of the law and has expressed that it will no longer tolerate unprovoked attacks on its personnel. This incident underscores the necessity of creating a safe and lawful environment for law enforcement agencies to carry out their duties effectively and without fear.
