Following the arrest of 69 students from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in a dawn raid outside campus hostels, the students have demanded an apology from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The Students’ Union of the university confirmed that the arrested individuals were indeed students of OAU.

Initially taken from Ile-Ife to the EFCC’s Zonal Office in Ibadan, Oyo State, 58 of the students were later released after a protest by the students at the agency’s office in Iyaganku, Ibadan, and the intervention of the university’s management. The spokesperson for OAU, Abiodun Olanrewaju, also confirmed the release of the students, stating that 11 of them still have cases to answer.

In a joint statement issued by the union’s president, Abbas Ojo; Secretary General, Akinboni Opeyemi; and PRO, Omisore Elijah, on Thursday, they demanded that the EFCC clear the names of their members who were unlawfully incarcerated. The union is also making efforts, in collaboration with legal practitioners, to secure the release of the remaining 11 students.

The student unionists emphasized their commitment to protecting the rights of OAU students, both on and off campus, against the actions of law enforcement agencies. They called on the EFCC to issue a public release clearing the names of the unlawfully detained students and retract the unfounded allegations previously published on their media platforms.

Omisore, the union’s PRO, further stated that they expect the EFCC to apologize and vindicate the students by clearing their names.