EFCC raids schools, causes panic among students and teachers

DDM News

Students and teachers at Goodwill Private Schools in Ikorodu, Lagos State, were thrown into panic when operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) stormed the school in a dramatic operation.

According to Diaspora digital media (DDM), an Eyewitnesses described the raid, which took place on Thursday and Friday, as a terrifying experience.

The school, established in 2004, witnessed chaos as gun-wielding EFCC officials ordered everyone out of the premises.

Although no serious injuries were confirmed, a video obtained by DDM showed a female student collapsing and vomiting due to the shock.

Her classmates rushed her to the restroom before she was taken to the hospital.

Reports indicate that the EFCC operatives prevented students and staff from retrieving their belongings, leaving even young pupils in distress.

“They Came Like They Were Going to War”

Vice Principal Olalekan Adewale recounted the ordeal, stating that the EFCC officials arrived as if on a military operation.

“They first came on Thursday, then returned on Friday morning. They were about seven, heavily armed.

“They wrote on the school walls and demanded I sign a document. When I refused, they threatened to take me away,” Adewale recalled.

The mathematics teacher further alleged that he was nearly forced to sign the document at gunpoint.

“They pointed guns at me and the children.

“The students panicked, running in different directions. When they noticed I wanted to record them, they seized my phone.

“They forced everyone out, including teachers and students, without allowing them to take their school bags and other belongings,” he said.

School Proprietor Condemns EFCC’s Actions

The school’s proprietor, Pastor Sunday Enikuomeyin, described the raid as intimidation of innocent students and staff.

“On Thursday, two armed EFCC officials, along with another officer, entered the compound and addressed the students, declaring that ‘the school now belongs to the EFCC,’” he said.

He explained that the officials attempted to force the vice principal to sign a document, but when he refused, they became aggressive.

“One of our students was so terrified that she began vomiting on the spot. We had to rush her to the hospital.

The officials also attempted to take the vice principal with them, but students and teachers protested, forcing them to reconsider,” he narrated.

EFCC Defends Its Actions

Speaking to Diaspora digital media (DDM) on Saturday night, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale defended the operatives’ actions, insisting it was a routine operation.

“The property is under investigation, and our officers were there to ensure it was not tampered with. This was not an invasion but a normal visit,” he explained.

Responding to allegations that students were forcibly removed, Oyewale stated, “The management knew the property was under investigation, so no activities should have taken place there.”

He also justified the presence of armed officers, saying,

“Law enforcement agents must be prepared for any resistance.”

The incident has raised concerns over the psychological impact of such raids on students and staff, with many questioning the EFCC’s approach to executing investigations in academic institutions.

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook