EFCC Disavows Connection to Kwara Polytechnic Demonstration, Claims Raid Focused on Apprehending Alleged Scam Artists

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has come out to refute claims that its recent operation in Ilorin, Kwara State, was the catalyst for a protest by students of Kwara State Polytechnic, emphasizing that the two events are unrelated.

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In a statement released on its X handle on Thursday, the agency disclosed that its operatives from the Ilorin Zonal Directorate had conducted a sting operation at two buildings in the Agbede community on Wednesday, targeting suspected internet fraudsters.

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The operation resulted in the arrest of 30 individuals suspected of internet fraud, with six of them being students of the polytechnic, according to the EFCC's statement on Thursday.

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The commission specified that the operation took place on Wednesday, March 24, 2026, and yielded the arrest of 30 suspected internet fraudsters, including six students of Kwara State Polytechnic, as stated in the EFCC's statement.

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Preliminary profiling revealed that the six students were actively engaged in internet fraud, and the operation also led to the recovery of eight vehicles suspected of being proceeds of crime, as well as mobile phones and laptops.

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The EFCC dismissed allegations linking its operation to the protest at the institution, stating that the sting operation was not connected to the polytechnic and did not involve entering the premises or disrupting any school activities.

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The agency described claims linking the protest to its operation as "untenable" and asserted that any videos circulating that suggest a connection between the two are "contrived and an outright misrepresentation of the operation".

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The EFCC reaffirmed its commitment to upholding professionalism and transparency in its duties, assuring the public that it operates with integrity and that all channels for reporting unethical conduct by its staff remain open.

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The commission emphasized that it will continue to work in the best interests of Nigerians, reiterating its dedication to professionalism and transparency in the discharge of its duties.

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Tension had gripped the polytechnic on Wednesday due to reports of EFCC operatives patrolling areas around the school during ongoing examinations, sparking panic among students, as reported by PUNCH Online.

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Witnesses described a scene of confusion as students ran in different directions, with some alleging that an officer was seen chasing a student, further heightening fears and prompting some aggrieved students to stage a protest.

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The protest involved the burning of tyres along sections of Old Jebba Road leading to the institution, but security was later reinforced with a police van from the Oke-Oyi Division stationed at the main gate to maintain law and order.

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The management of the polytechnic later announced that calm had been restored, characterizing the protest as brief and limited, and stating that it originated from reports of security operatives conducting official duties in the nearby Agbede community.

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The management noted that no students were arrested during the operation and commended the swift intervention of security agencies, adding that only a small number of students participated in the protest.