Nigerian Students Kick As Army Hands Over Arrested Ogun University Students To Anti-graft Agency, EFCC

According to a report by SaharaReporters, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has berated the Nigerian Army for handing over students of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED) illegally arrested, to the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Ibadan, capital of Oyo State.

SaharaReporters gathered that the students were arrested on Thursday by soldiers attached to Ilese Barracks.

“Uniformed men of Nigerian Military invaded the students' community of our dear University and meted absolute injustice, extortion and assaults on peace-loving students. 

“TASUEDITES who are going by their legitimate and calm businesses were cornered at CONOIL Filling Station, the Express Road that leads to the University's second gate. They were arrested and assaulted for no reason.

“To make things worse, the soldiers asked students to bail themselves with N50,000 and those who could not do that were detained and taken away (most likely to the barracks),” a students’ leader had said.

NANS President, Sunday Asefon in a statement sent to SaharaReporters on Sunday said the Students’ Union President of the school, Sodiq Ridwan and four of his executives have been released by the army.

He added that other students arrested were however transferred to EFCC custody in Ibadan for alleged internet frauds.

The statement read, “Recall I condemned in the strongest possible terms the unjust arrest, harassment and intimidations of some TASUED students, including the SUG President and some Union Executives by troops of the Nigerian Army attached to the Ilese Barracks in Ogun State. 

“Also, recall that I earlier on Friday announced a 24-hour ultimatum for the unconditional release of the affected students. I travelled with my team 16 hours before the expiration of the ultimatum to give prompt actions to my words. The SUG President and four other SUG Executives arrested were released before the expiration of our ultimatum. The rest of the students arrested have been transferred to EFCC custody in Ibadan for alleged internet frauds.

“While I do not support internet frauds, I am of the firm belief that the Nigerian Army has no business arresting internet fraudsters. Transferring them to the EFCC is an afterthought because of the dimensions the case has taken. The Nigerian Army should be too busy fighting insecurity across the country than pursuing petty criminals and causing unrest in our campuses by creating avoidable and unnecessary drama through an excessive show of force.

“I have directed an internal individualised enquiry into the allegations and evidence against the students transferred to the EFCC custody and NANS under my watch will ensure their prompt release if our internal investigation suggests lack of evidence against them and if the evidence against them is questionable or obtained illegally. 

“We must protect our students from unnecessary and avoidable aggressions. The sensitivity of Campus Security shall also be discussed during our forthcoming Students Security Summit slated to hold on 4th November, 2021 in Abuja.”