Tension gripped Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, on Wednesday after the reported presence of operatives from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission triggered panic among students.

The incident, which occurred during ongoing examinations, led to confusion as students were seen running in different directions following sightings of armed operatives around areas near the campus.

Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene, with one student recounting how fear spread quickly across the institution due to uncertainty surrounding the operation. Another student criticised the timing, noting that the situation disrupted the examination atmosphere and left many shaken.

The unrest escalated into a protest, as some aggrieved students took to the streets, burning tyres along the Old Jebba Road leading to the school. Visible remnants of the protest, including burnt debris, highlighted the intensity of the demonstration.

Security presence was immediately reinforced, with officers deployed to maintain order and prevent further escalation. A police van from the Oke-Oyi Division was stationed at the institution’s main gate.

In response, the Polytechnic management assured the public that calm had been restored, clarifying that the EFCC operation did not take place on campus but in nearby Agbede village.

The institution also stated that no students were arrested during the operation and that only a small number participated in the protest.

According to the management, swift intervention by security agencies helped contain the situation without further escalation, while academic activities, including examinations, continued as scheduled.

The school further reassured parents, guardians, and the public that the campus environment remains safe, urging everyone to go about their normal activities without fear.

Efforts to obtain an official response from the EFCC’s Ilorin Zonal Command were unsuccessful as of the time of filing the report.