Nigerians have criticised the Economic Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, following the death of an operative of the Commission during a night raid.
Chronicle NG reports that an officer of the EFCC was shot dead and another critically injured after suspected Internet fraudsters, known as Yahoo boys, opened fire on the anti-graft operatives in the Onitsha area of Anambra State.
According to reports, the incident which happen at about 3am on Friday, injured several more people as they scampered to safety as a result of the surprise gunshots.
An eyewitness who pleaded anonymity due to the sensitivity of the incident said, “The incident happened this morning (Friday). The suspected Internet fraudsters suddenly opened fire on the EFCC operatives on noticing their presence.
“In the process, they shot one officer dead instantly, while another who was critically injured was rushed to a nearby hospital and still remained in critical condition at the hospital as of Friday night.”
Speaking on the incident, Nigerians berated the EFCC over their modus operandi during raids on suspected fraudsters.
The questioned why the operatives raided the house of the suspect by scaling the fence at 3am on Friday.
With many describing the action of the suspect as ”self defense,” they mentioned that the level of insecurity and kidnapping in the country, will force unsuspecting residents to protect themselves in the event of ”trespassers” jumping one’s fence at such ”ungodly” hours.
Reacting on the incident, popular social media influencer Solomon Buchi, faulted the EFCC operatives for raiding the home of the suspect in the manner they reportedly did.
”A Nigerian man shot an EFCC officer that raided his home by 3am. I’m very happy. If you come in the night, you’re a thief that should die by a gun,” Buchi stated in a statement on X.
Sharing similar sentiments, another X user simply identified as Onatisi said, ”Why would a security officer jump a fence and break open someone’s door at 3 am? So what if it turns out it wasn’t an EFCC but a Fulani Herdsman or a kidnapper? Would we still be blaming the man for shooting him?”
For Bature, he argued that the ”EFCC isn’t even a security organisation. I don’t know why the need to jump the fence in the dead of the night.”
Another X user, Solomon, in his reaction, said, ”They only told us a yahoo boy shot EFCC in Anambra.
”They didn’t tell us how and when the EFCC came to the person’s residence.
”How can EFCC jump someone’s fence by midnight to go arrest the person with this level of insecurity in Anambra right now?”
Making allusion to the Holy Bible, Baby Yanka in her reaction said, ”Even the Bible said Jesus will come like a thief in the night; the Bible knows those characteristics belong to a thief, so if you move like that, you will be treated like a thief.”
This publication highlights below more reactions of Nigerians to the incident as observed by our correspondent.
Excellence, ”I think first how would you see someone jumping through your fence at the dark hour of the night, at the level of insecurity in Nigeria and not take an action when you still can, the Nigeria security agency needs a re-form.”
Snillocbaba, ”For Christ sake can same EFCC be going to government official’s house in the night to raid them? The answer is no
”I’m happy someone with balls have taught them a lesson more people will soon start emulating. What stops you from inviting the person you want to arrest or going by day?”
Adepoju, ”EFCC primary duty is to handle financial crime not terrorism or assassination case so what financial crime has the person committed that you have to go and burst his house at 3.am? Is the person holding the keys to the CBN vault?
”The officer died wrongfully and the blame is on EFCC who acted like armed robbers in an attempt to arrest a suspect. Do your work but please take your brain along.”
Ana, ”If you’ve an encounter with thieves in your home at night, you’ll understand; it was 3am, we’re all still traumatised such that some people haven’t slept in their apartment since then. If any of us have a gun, we’ll not hesitate to shot at anything at 3am. May God heal his family.”
Clarence, ”Nobody is talking about how the @officialEFCC jumped the fence and broke down the door by 3am, some are asking why a man should protect his family with a licensed gun.
”Anyway, I will not hesitate to separate the head from the body if I’m attacked by even the President by 3am”
Victor Nathaniel, ”I have been seeing this story around but it omitted that they came 3am. Group of people scale my fence at that time when I have wife and kids and I have gun in hand, they all going down.”
David, ”Honestly if the guy has a good lawyer, the EFCC has an invalid case. The guy might only be charged with possession of Firearm (if he doesn’t have a license).”
Theo, ”I can’t defend EFCC because they operate like armed robbers. How can they go to someone house for midnight ? He deserve more than what he received.”
Eze Oluchi, ”The man was protecting himself when he still can, what if it turns out to be real kidnappers? We wouldn’t be saying same.
”EFCC had this coming, they should stop raiding people’s home at night like armed robber’s. I just hate their modus operandi”
Chukwu, ”Initially, I was on the side of the EFCC until I read the full story. Behaving like armed robbers will definitely get someone killed.”
