The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has denied any connection between its recent enforcement operation in Ilorin and protests reportedly staged by students of Kwara State Polytechnic, insisting that its activities did not involve the institution.
In a statement issued by its Ilorin Zonal Directorate, the anti-graft agency confirmed that operatives carried out a sting operation on March 24, 2026, targeting two buildings in the Agbede community suspected to be hubs for internet-related fraud. The operation led to the arrest of 30 suspects, including six identified as students of Kwara State Polytechnic.
According to the commission, preliminary profiling of the six students indicated that they were “actively involved in internet fraud,” adding that the arrests were based on intelligence and carried out within the confines of the identified locations.
The EFCC stressed that the operation was strictly limited to the targeted buildings and did not extend to the polytechnic campus. “The sting operation was not remotely connected to the Polytechnic. No entrance was made into the premises of the Institution and there was no disruption of any activity of the school,” the statement said.
The agency also pushed back against circulating claims linking the arrests to student unrest, describing such narratives as misleading. “It is untenable to link any protest by some students of the Polytechnic to the lawful operation of the EFCC. Any video in circulation linking students’ protest with the operation of the Commission is contrived and outright misrepresentation of the operation,” it stated.
Items recovered during the raid include eight vehicles suspected to be proceeds of crime, as well as mobile phones and laptops believed to have been used in fraudulent activities. The suspects are currently in custody and are expected to face further investigation.
Reaffirming its stance, the commission maintained that its operations are guided by professionalism and due process. It also reiterated that channels remain open for reporting any alleged misconduct by its personnel, underscoring its commitment to accountability.
The EFCC added that it will continue to pursue its mandate of combating financial crimes while acting “in the overall interests of Nigerians,” amid growing scrutiny of enforcement actions and their wider social implications.
