Nigerians have criticised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, following the arrest of no fewer than 127 nightclub goers and the assault of ladies during a raid by operatives of the Commission.
The EFCC raided two nightclubs in Akure, Ondo State, and arrested 127 people suspected of online fraud.
The operation, which occurred on June 8, 2024, resulted in the confiscation of a variety of items, including automobiles, laptops, and phones.
One of the eyewitnesses present at one of the raided nightclubs told reporters that “they entered the nightclubs and lounges, tear-gassing people, beating them up, and arresting them. They don’t care who you are. Many people, including security personnel, were injured as they shot tear gas canisters inside one of the clubs.
“They also went away with a groom and his friends at a club; he was there for his bash eve, so sad as they profiled everyone as Internet fraudsters.”
“They destroyed the club and the rooms in the hotels. They forcefully broke into the rooms. They also destroyed the CCTV and the engine.”
Another X user, Oluyemi Fasipe, who identifies as #YemiFash on X, shared a video showing the alleged dehumanisation of innocent ladies at a club in Akure, tweeting, “This is what your rogue officers did to innocent ladies at a club in Akure last night. They also took away their phones after this dehumanization. I am sharing this for the whole world to see how irresponsible and unprofessional your agency can be.”
The EFCC, in an update on Saturday, alleged that the suspects were attending a gathering for internet fraudsters.
EFCC wrote, “Operatives of the Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested one hundred and twenty-seven (127) suspected internet fraudsters in Ondo State.
“The alleged internet fraudsters were arrested in an early morning sting operation at a “Yahoo Party” held simultaneously at Signature and Abah Clubs on Saturday, June 8, 2024, in Akure, Ondo State.
“Credible intelligence showed that the alleged party was initially scheduled for Wednesday, June 5, 2024, but was later moved to Saturday to beat the security and intelligence networks of the EFCC.
“The suspects have given useful information to investigators of the Directorate.
“Items recovered from them include ten exotic cars, phones, laptops, motorcycles, wristwatches, and many incriminating documents.
“They will be charged in court as soon as investigations are concluded.”
Nigerians berated the EFCC for invading the Night Club and allegedly dehumanising the attendees.
Reacting to the invasion of the club, R.B. Jimmy described the EFCC as a terrorist organisation.
“These people called EFFC are the main terrorist organisations in the country. Don’t get me wrong. I am not against their work, but their wrong actions are terrible; they mishandled humans, dehumanised citizens and arrested so many innocent youths in their raid, which is quite unfortunate,” Jimmy said.
Omeokachie described the operatives who conducted the raid as “sexual predators” on the loose.
“From what they did to those ladies and where they attacked, you will know that those so-called operatives are sexual predators on rampage,” Omeokachie mentioned.
For Ore Akiinde, she noted, “I just want to point out that the that the EFCC has been raiding places with men for a long time without sexually assaulting anyone, but when they got to a club in Akure that had women suddenly, they decided to sexually assault them. When did EFCC start spanking women?”
“Somehow, the EFCC was quick to arrest a groom and his friends on their bachelor’s eve in Akure, claiming it was a “Yahoo Party,” but they haven’t worked up the nerve to arrest Yahaya Bello yet,” an X user, Sir David Onyemaizu, stated.
He added that “they don’t follow due process. They jump fences and raid young men at night simply because they are well dressed and drive good cars. Evolving quickly into a version of the dreaded SARS.”
“You have no respect for the fundamental human rights of Nigerian citizens. Your officers have been known to assault women in our society. What happened in Akure is not an arrest but an abuser of power from the EFCC,” OLuomo argues.
In Gbenga Akeju’s reaction, he said, “All we can tell the government I mean, the EFCC employer is that those guys over there are not working according to international standards of secret service procedures. With our previous experience with Endsars, I don’t think that kind of kangaroo force will ever surface in Nigeria again.”
