Tension enveloped Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, when the reported presence of operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission around the institution sparked panic and a brief but fiery protest by students.

Witnesses said EFCC operatives were sighted in vehicles patrolling areas close to the campus while examinations were in progress. Word of their presence spread quickly, triggering confusion as students abandoned exam halls and lecture rooms, unsure of the target of the operation.

According to students, the situation escalated when rumours circulated that an officer had been seen chasing a student. The claim, though unverified, was enough to send many running in different directions, with some scaling fences and others taking cover in nearby buildings.

“We suddenly saw people running. Nobody understood what was happening, but seeing armed officers around during exams created fear everywhere,” one student said, asking not to be named for safety reasons.

Another student condemned the timing of the operation, saying it disrupted the already tense examination atmosphere and left many undergraduates traumatised.

Anger over the incident soon spilled onto the streets as a group of students blocked parts of Old Jebba Road, which leads to the institution. Tyres were set ablaze, sending thick smoke into the air and briefly obstructing traffic around the polytechnic’s main gate.

When reporters visited the area, charred remains of burnt tyres and debris still littered the entrance, underscoring the intensity of the protest despite its short duration.

Security was quickly reinforced, with a police van from the Oke-Oyi Division and other security personnel deployed to the gate and strategic points around the campus to forestall further unrest.

In a statement, the management of Kwara State Polytechnic moved to calm nerves, insisting that normalcy had been restored and describing the protest as limited in scope and short-lived.

The institution clarified that the EFCC operation did not take place within the school premises but in nearby Agbede community. It stressed that no student was arrested and that only a small number of undergraduates joined the protest.

Management added that examinations continued as scheduled, with invigilators supervising students who remained on campus, and reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining a safe and peaceful academic environment for all.