Chaos erupted on Wednesday at Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, following reports that operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) were in the vicinity, sparking panic and unrest among students.
According to journalists, the anti-graft officials were seen patrolling areas surrounding the campus, coinciding with ongoing examinations.
Videos and eyewitness accounts circulating on social media showed an officer allegedly chasing a student, intensifying the fear among the student body.
“We suddenly saw people running in different directions. Nobody really understood what was happening at first, but the presence of armed operatives created fear across the campus,” a student who requested anonymity said.
“It is wrong for such operations to take place when students are writing exams. It disrupted the entire atmosphere and left many of us shaken,” another student added.
In response, some students staged a protest, reportedly burning tyres along sections of the Old Jebba Road leading to the institution. During a visit, PUNCH Online observed remnants of the demonstration, with ashes from burnt tyres still visible at the campus entrance.
Security presence around the school was heightened, with a police van from the Oke-Oyi Division stationed at the main gate, suggesting measures were in place to maintain order and prevent further escalation.
Reacting to the incident, the Polytechnic management issued a statement assuring the public that calm had returned.
“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,” the statement read.
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The institution clarified that the security operation causing the tension took place in a nearby community rather than on campus.
“The incident originated from reports of security operatives conducting official duties in the nearby Agbede village, an action which reportedly caused concern among some students.”
“No arrests of students were made during the security operation,” the management added.
It noted that only a small number of students participated in the protest and commended the prompt intervention of security personnel.
“The swift and professional intervention of combined security agencies and the Polytechnic’s own security personnel ensured the situation was contained promptly and without escalation,” the statement said.
The management also confirmed that academic activities continued as planned.
“Students scheduled for morning examinations have been checked in by their invigilators, and exams are ongoing as planned,” it stated, while urging commuters and the public to go about their daily activities without fear.
“The road is clear and safe for travel. The Polytechnic remains committed to the safety, welfare, and academic progress of all its students and staff,” the statement concluded.
Attempts to obtain an official comment 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, went unanswered at the time of filing this report.