KEY POINTS
- EFCC denies involvement in Kwara Polytechnic protest
- Agency says sting operation occurred in Agbede, not inside campus
- 30 suspects arrested, including six Polytechnic students
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has denied involvement in the recent protest at Kwara State Polytechnic, stating that its operation in Ilorin was not connected to activities within the institution. The agency clarified its position following widespread reactions and claims linking its operatives to unrest around the school.
In a statement posted on its official X platform, the commission said operatives from its Ilorin Zonal Directorate conducted a sting operation on March 24, 2026, at the Agbede community in Ilorin. The operation targeted two buildings allegedly linked to suspected internet fraudsters.
According to the EFCC, the raid led to the arrest of 30 suspects, including six students of Kwara State Polytechnic. The commission added that several items suspected to be proceeds of crime were recovered during the operation, including vehicles, mobile phones and laptops.
The agency insisted that the operation did not extend into the Polytechnic premises and did not disrupt any academic or administrative activities at the school. It also described circulating videos linking the protest to its operation as misleading.
EFCC dismisses claims of school invasion
The commission stated that no EFCC personnel entered the Polytechnic grounds during the operation. It maintained that any suggestion that the agency triggered the protest or conducted arrests within the institution was inaccurate.
According to the EFCC, videos circulating online claiming that its operatives stormed the campus were “contrived” and misrepresented the events. The anti-graft agency emphasised that its actions were strictly limited to the Agbede community and were carried out in line with its mandate.
Despite the clarification, the statement generated strong reactions from social media users, many of whom disputed the commission’s account. Some commenters alleged that EFCC operatives moved from the Agbede area toward the Polytechnic gate and carried out arrests beyond the stated locations.
Others questioned the scale of the operation and the agency’s enforcement priorities, while some accused the operatives of forceful entry into buildings and seizure of vehicles. Additional claims suggested that individuals were wrongly arrested during separate operations in the state.
Several users also cited video footage they claimed showed EFCC personnel within areas close to the Polytechnic, challenging the agency’s denial. Critics further accused the commission of routinely dismissing allegations of misconduct during enforcement actions.
