Panic on Campus: Students Scatter as EFCC Operatives Storm Kwara Polytechnic During Exams
Pandemonium erupted on Wednesday at Kwara State Polytechnic following reports of the presence of operatives from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), triggering fear and unrest among students.
According to information gathered, the anti-graft officials were spotted patrolling areas around the campus at a time when examinations were ongoing, heightening anxiety among students.
Eyewitness accounts and videos circulating on social media showed an officer allegedly chasing a student, further escalating panic across the institution.
“We suddenly saw people running in different directions. Nobody really understood what was happening at first, but the presence of armed operatives created fear across the campus,” a student, who requested anonymity, said.
Another student criticised the timing of the operation, noting that it disrupted the examination atmosphere. “It is wrong for such operations to take place when students are writing exams. It left many of us shaken,” the student added.
In reaction, a group of aggrieved students staged a protest, burning tyres along parts of the Old Jebba Road leading to the institution.
A visit to the area revealed remnants of the demonstration, with ashes from burnt tyres still visible at the entrance—an indication of the intensity of the protest.
Security presence was subsequently heightened, as a police van from the Oke-Oyi Division was stationed at the main gate to maintain order and prevent further escalation.
Responding to the incident, the Polytechnic’s management assured the public that calm had been restored across the campus and its surroundings.
In a statement, the institution clarified that the EFCC operation did not take place within the campus but in nearby Agbede village, which triggered concern among students.
“It is important to note that no arrests of students were made during the security operation,” the management stated, adding that only a small number of students participated in the protest.
The school also commended the swift intervention of security agencies, noting that the situation was quickly contained without further escalation.
Academic activities, according to the management, were not disrupted, as students scheduled for morning examinations were duly checked in and exams proceeded as planned.
Reaffirming its commitment to safety, the institution urged parents, guardians, and commuters to remain calm and continue their daily activities without fear.
Meanwhile, efforts to obtain an official response from the Ilorin Zonal Command of the EFCC were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
Source: Punch