OAU: Chief Security Officer Claims Ignorance as Federal SARS Terrorises Students Outside Campus
Peter Oyebanji, Adeniji Mayowa
The Chief Security Officer (CSO) of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife, Babatunde Oyatokun has claimed ignorance of the terrorisation of students that has been happening outside the campus of the university since the beginning of this month.
OAU Kilonshele gathered that the Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad (FSARS) has been busting students that they believed to be cybercriminals (Yahoo Boys). The recently renamed squad became highly noticeable at the beginning of this month which happens to coincide with the period when Obafemi Awolowo University was threatened by cultists.
Information reaching this news outfit is that the FSARS activity has been going on for a while but became consistent recently. Speaking with victims, witnesses and followers of this anti-students activity, we gathered that the students end up paying huge sum of money to get freed by the FSARS operatives.
Speaking with a 300 level of the institution, who demanded anonymity. He gave a short explanation of how the activity has been carried out. "The operation has been specific. They storm into a hostel and walk directly to the door of their target. They have the information of the people they want to arrest. They don't cart away with property. They just arrest you and free you after you've fulfilled their demand."
In the same vein, another student who has witnessed one of the attacks narrated what transpired when his hostel was attack. "they storm into our hostel and told all the males to come out. Their target was not around and they left without touching us."
Another student, a victim of this illegal activity that is being perpetuated by the operatives of the FSARS, told OAU Kilonshele how it went when he was seized.
"They didn't touch any of my property. They just arrested me and demanded for a huge amount of money. I paid and I was freed," the victim narrated.
The most dramatic of these attacks happened in Damico, a luxurious area in Ile-ife. We gathered that 3 guys were apprehended but refused to open the door until their landlord showed up. They opened the door and flee immediately. One was however arrested and handcuffed, but unloosed the handcuffed and escaped.
Another student of the institution who demanded anonymity narrated his own experience at the hand of these operatives. The student who was confirmed to be an accommodation agent was apprehended on the road. "I was stopped on the road by these operatives. They were disappointed when they found out that I was not a cyber criminal (yahoo boy). One said, 'go and start Yahoo oh.' We laughed and I left."
It should be recalled that there is currently an online campaign against the FSARS operation. The campaign which led to the recent change of name is aimed at ending the operation of the anti-robbery squad due to their brutality. It should also be recalled that the students' union action committee recently called for an aggressive campaign against the activity of the operatives in the university community.
Meanwhile, in a conversation with the CSO, Mr. Babatunde Oyatokun, he revealed that he is ignorant of their activities outside the campus.
"I don't have information as regards the attack outside the campus but I have information that when there is any problem, I can invite the FSARS to come to our rescue. Other things, I don't know." Mr. Babatunde said.
"Whatever happens outside the campus is not within my jurisdiction. It is purely for the external security agencies. So it is other security agencies that are working outside the campus that would answer to that," Mr. Babatunde continued.
The Chief Security Officer (CSO) of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife, Babatunde Oyatokun has claimed ignorance of the terrorisation of students that has been happening outside the campus of the university since the beginning of this month.
OAU Kilonshele gathered that the Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad (FSARS) has been busting students that they believed to be cybercriminals (Yahoo Boys). The recently renamed squad became highly noticeable at the beginning of this month which happens to coincide with the period when Obafemi Awolowo University was threatened by cultists.
Information reaching this news outfit is that the FSARS activity has been going on for a while but became consistent recently. Speaking with victims, witnesses and followers of this anti-students activity, we gathered that the students end up paying huge sum of money to get freed by the FSARS operatives.
Speaking with a 300 level of the institution, who demanded anonymity. He gave a short explanation of how the activity has been carried out. "The operation has been specific. They storm into a hostel and walk directly to the door of their target. They have the information of the people they want to arrest. They don't cart away with property. They just arrest you and free you after you've fulfilled their demand."
In the same vein, another student who has witnessed one of the attacks narrated what transpired when his hostel was attack. "they storm into our hostel and told all the males to come out. Their target was not around and they left without touching us."
Another student, a victim of this illegal activity that is being perpetuated by the operatives of the FSARS, told OAU Kilonshele how it went when he was seized.
"They didn't touch any of my property. They just arrested me and demanded for a huge amount of money. I paid and I was freed," the victim narrated.
The most dramatic of these attacks happened in Damico, a luxurious area in Ile-ife. We gathered that 3 guys were apprehended but refused to open the door until their landlord showed up. They opened the door and flee immediately. One was however arrested and handcuffed, but unloosed the handcuffed and escaped.
Another student of the institution who demanded anonymity narrated his own experience at the hand of these operatives. The student who was confirmed to be an accommodation agent was apprehended on the road. "I was stopped on the road by these operatives. They were disappointed when they found out that I was not a cyber criminal (yahoo boy). One said, 'go and start Yahoo oh.' We laughed and I left."
It should be recalled that there is currently an online campaign against the FSARS operation. The campaign which led to the recent change of name is aimed at ending the operation of the anti-robbery squad due to their brutality. It should also be recalled that the students' union action committee recently called for an aggressive campaign against the activity of the operatives in the university community.
Meanwhile, in a conversation with the CSO, Mr. Babatunde Oyatokun, he revealed that he is ignorant of their activities outside the campus.
"I don't have information as regards the attack outside the campus but I have information that when there is any problem, I can invite the FSARS to come to our rescue. Other things, I don't know." Mr. Babatunde said.
"Whatever happens outside the campus is not within my jurisdiction. It is purely for the external security agencies. So it is other security agencies that are working outside the campus that would answer to that," Mr. Babatunde continued.
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