By Leshi Adebayo
The Nigerian Army has handed over some students of Tai Solarin University Of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, who were arrested by men of Ilese Barracks, Ogun State, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibadan Zonal Office.
The President of the Nigerian Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Sunday Asefon made this known in a statement on Sunday, questioning the actions of the Nigerian Army and the EFCC.
Recall last Thursday, chaos broke out in the institution after military men confronted the students in their cars around Conoil filling station along the Lagos-Benin highway, afterwards they were arrested and detained for days.
Efforts to secure their release by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Wole Banjo proved abortive
On Friday, TASUED students embarked on a protest, demanding the unconditional release of their colleagues. This would later result in a conflict between students and the soldiers, forcing the university management to order an indefinite closure of the institution.
Asefon revealed that the Students’ Union President of TASUED, Sodiq Ridwan and four others who tried to salvage the situation have been released.
He, however, said some other arrested students were handed over to the EFCC for alleged internet fraud.
The NANS President recalled issuing a 24-hour ultimatum for the release of the arrested ones on Friday, saying, “the SUG President and four other SUG Executives arrested were released before the expiration of the ultimatum.”
He declared his stand against internet fraud but strongly noted that “the Nigerian Army has no business arresting internet fraudsters.”
According to him, the decision of the army to transfer the TASUED students to the EFCC was “an afterthought because of the dimension the case has taken.”
“The Nigerian Army should be too busy fighting insecurity across the country than pursuing petty criminals and causing unrest in our campuses by creating avoidable and unnecessary drama through an excessive show of force,” he said.
Asefon disclosed that an internal individualized enquiry into the allegations is in motion, adding that “NANS under my watch will ensure their prompt release if our internal investigation suggests lack of evidence against them.”
