In a concerning incident on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, seven operatives of the Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) were attacked and held hostage by staff and students of the Federal College of Forestry, located in Idi-shin Estate, Ibadan, Oyo State. The confrontation occurred while the EFCC personnel were conducting a routine verification exercise related to the surety, Azeez Kazeem Oluwakemi.
The primary purpose of the EFCC operatives’ visit to the college was to authenticate the address and identity of Azeez Kazeem Oluwakemi, who had stood as a surety for Alakinde Khalid Kolawole, a suspected internet fraudster currently in the custody of the Commission. This process is a standard law enforcement practice aimed at ensuring the fulfillment of bail conditions for a suspect.
Despite the prior notification given to the college community regarding the mission of the EFCC’s team, a sudden outbreak of hostility was directed at the operatives by students and staff. Reportedly, the college’s Student Union President, along with several colleagues and some members of the staff, actively incited a violent confrontation with the EFCC operatives.
The situation escalated when two of the college’s main entrance gates were barricaded with an automobile believed to belong to one of the lecturers. Furthermore, the bus that had transported the EFCC operatives to the college was vandalized, while students and staff pelted the vehicle with stones and other dangerous objects. Fortunately, a rescue team successfully intervened, securing the release of the seven operatives who had been held hostage by the hostile crowd.
It is important to note that, during this disturbing incident, EFCC operatives demonstrated considerable restraint and refrained from using any force against their belligerent attackers. While armed operatives discharged their firearms into the air to disperse the unruly crowd, no student or staff member of the college sustained gunshot injuries.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission would like to emphasize its commitment to fulfilling its mandate and carrying out its duties diligently. The Commission strongly condemns unprovoked attacks against its personnel during the performance of their lawful duties and affirms that such actions will not be tolerated in the future.
