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Following the arrest of 69 suspected Internet fraudsters, many of whom are students at Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, the university's administration said it was meeting with officials from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The remaining 58 pupils were released late Wednesday.
In a nocturnal raid, EFCC officials stormed hostels outside the OAU campus, including the Fine Touch and Superb hostels in the Oduduwa Estate, Ile-Ife, broke into rooms, and arrested students.
Akinremi Ojo, President of the Students' Organization, stated on Wednesday morning that the organization received data of "72 students picked up from the hostel with phones and cars taken away." The president urged the students' release while condemning the arrests' tactics.
Read also: Senate Confirms Olukoyede As EFCC Chairman, Hammajoda As SecretaryJoy Abiola, a former union officer, reported that the students were beaten during the arrests.
She said, “The EFCC officials came between 1:40 a.m. and 4:00 a.m.,” saying, “Only students stay in those hostels. How can you arrest people for owning iPhones, laptops, and cars? Some of the students are only tech experts.”
In a video shared by one of the students, several young people said to be students of the hostel were seen being marched into a white Hummer bus, with some security officials hitting them and ordering them to move and enter quickly.
