ILORIN, KWARA STATE– Calm has been brought back to the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, following a period of intense stress and student unrest on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.
The disruption was triggered by reports of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operatives carrying out an operation in the vicinity, which sparked fears of a mass arrest among the student population.
The discontent led to a spontaneous protest at the institution’s main gate, where students set fire to tyres along parts of the Old Jebba Roadway, briefly stopping automobile movement and producing a sense of panic throughout the scholastic neighborhood.
Opposing students set fire to tyres along parts of the Old Jebba Roadway Panic and
Spontaneous Protest The unrest started soon after students resumed scholastic activities. According to eyewitness accounts and viral social networks video, the sight of armed operatives led many to think a campus raid was underway.
One video allegedly portrayed an officer in pursuit of a trainee, an image that rapidly flowed through student messaging groups and increased the collective stress and anxiety.
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Speaking on the condition of privacy, a student described the disorderly environment: “No one really understood what was occurring in the beginning, however the presence of armed operatives produced fear across the campus. It interfered with the entire environment and left a lot of us shaken.”
Management Explanation and Security Intervention
In a swift response to the escalating scenario, the polytechnic management designated its spokesperson, Halimat Garba, to remedy what it described as a misunderstanding of the occasions.
The management clarified that the EFCC operation did not take place within the polytechnic’s walls but was localised to the neighboring Agbede town.
Key Points from the Official Statement:
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Area of Occurrence: The operation happened in Agbede village, not on the school campus.
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Student Safety: Management confirmed that no students were arrested during the exercise.
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Containment: The situation was brought under control through the “expert intervention” of combined security firms and the school’s internal security personnel.
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Academic Continuity: Regardless of the morning’s interruptions, arranged evaluations proceeded as prepared.
Current Status of Old Jebba Roadway
Following the dispersal of the protesters and the cleaning of the bonfires, authorities have confirmed that the Old Jebba Roadway is when again safe for travel.
Security presence remains heightened in the location to avoid any reprisal actions or more assembly that could threaten public peace.
Efforts to reach the Ilorin Zonal Command of the EFCC for a main talk about the nature of the operation in Agbede village were unsuccessful at the time of this report.