EFCC Raids Sokoto University Hostels, Arrests Scores of Students
In the early hours of Saturday, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) launched a surprise midnight raid on several private hostels located in the Kwakwalawa and Gidan Yaro communities of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS).
According to eyewitness accounts, the EFCC officials stormed the hostels around 4am, arresting dozens of students in the process. The students described the scene as chaotic, with many initially mistaking the anti-graft agency operatives for kidnappers.
The arrested students recounted that the EFCC officials did not only conduct arbitrary arrests but also destroyed their properties and assaulted some of them. Female students were allegedly among those who were subjected to physical abuse.
The motive behind the raid and arrests remained unclear, as the EFCC had yet to issue a statement or provide any information about the operation. This is not the first time the agency has targeted students in such a manner, having previously conducted a similar raid on students’ lodges at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) in February.
The incident has sparked concerns among students and parents about the increasing use of force by law enforcement agencies in addressing alleged financial crimes. The authorities have been urged to ensure that any future operations are carried out in a manner that respects the rights and dignity of all individuals involved.
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