Unrest erupts as anti-graft agency's swoop on KWARAPOLY triggers demonstrations

Chaos erupted on Wednesday at Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, as news spread of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission operatives being present on campus, sparking widespread fear and unrest among the student body.

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This development coincided with the ongoing examinations, and eyewitnesses reported seeing the anti-graft operatives patrolling areas around the campus, which further fueled the sense of unease.

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Videos circulating on social media appeared to show an officer chasing a student, which heightened panic among the students, with many scrambling to understand what was happening.

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A student, who wished to remain anonymous, recounted the scene, saying, "We suddenly saw people running in different directions, and the presence of armed operatives created fear across the campus."

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Another student expressed dissatisfaction with the timing of the operation, stating, "It is wrong for such operations to take place when students are writing exams, as it disrupted the entire atmosphere and left many of us shaken."

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In response to the incident, a group of students staged a protest earlier in the day, burning tyres along parts of the Old Jebba Road leading to the institution to express their dissatisfaction.

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During a visit to the school, remnants of the protest were still visible, with ashes from burnt tyres at the entrance, indicating the intensity of the demonstration, and a police van from the Oke-Oyi Division was stationed at the main gate.

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The security presence was heightened, suggesting efforts to prevent further escalation and maintain order, and the management of the Polytechnic later issued a statement assuring the public that calm had been restored across the campus and its environs.

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The statement read, "The management wishes to inform the general public, particularly parents, guardians, and commuters, that a peaceful academic environment has been fully restored on campus and its immediate surroundings following a brief protest by a few students earlier today."

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The institution clarified that the security operation, which sparked the tension, did not occur within the campus but in a nearby community, specifically the Agbede village, where security operatives were conducting official duties.

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The management added that no arrests of students were made during the security operation, and only a small number of students participated in the protest, which was promptly contained by the swift intervention of security personnel.

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The institution commended the combined security agencies and the Polytechnic's own security personnel for their swift and professional intervention, which ensured the situation was contained without escalation.

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Reassuring stakeholders that academic activities were not disrupted, the management stated, "Students scheduled for morning examinations have been checked in by their invigilators, and exams are ongoing as planned."

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The institution urged commuters and members of the public to go about their daily activities without fear, saying, "The road is clear and safe for travel, and the Polytechnic remains committed to the safety, welfare, and academic progress of all its students and staff."

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Meanwhile, efforts to obtain an official response from the Ilorin Zonal Command of the EFCC were unsuccessful, as calls and messages sent to the agency's Public Relations Officer, Ayodele Babatunde Joseph, were not responded to as of the time of filing this report.