Apparently unfazed by the reported fatal protest embarked upon by some youths in Delta State, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) has reassured members of the public of its unswerving commitment to its mandate and vision of a Nigeria free of economic and financial crimes, through the instrumentality of its Establishment Act and other extant laws.
The anti-graft agency also reiterated that all operational activities of the Commission are always in tandem with global best practices and that Issues of arrest, detention, arraignment and prosecution of suspects are done in line with the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of the Commission. “The EFCC is fulfilling every international standard of law enforcement in all its ramifications.
“On this note, members of the public are enjoined to ignore any blackmail, campaign of calumny, tissue of lies and other ploys being employed by corrupt elements to cast aspersion on the good works of the Commission.
“The EFCC will continue to keep faith with its mandate and strengthen every legitimate activity of individuals, groups and organisations.
“All the outreach contacts of the Commission are also open for enquiries, complaints and petitions.”
Eighteen-Eleven Media reports that angry youths on Tuesday besieged the Effurun Roundabout in the Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State calling for the scrap of EFCC.
At least one person has died with two injured as youths staged a protest against the EFCC at Otovwodo, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.
The angry protesters carried placards around the Effurun roundabout, calling for the scrapping of the EFCC. Several trucks were also set ablaze during the protest.
Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, confirmed the incident. The angry youths, the police spokesman said, took to the streets of Ughelli in their numbers, protesting against alleged incessant arrest by EFCC officials.
According to Edafe, the youths also set ablaze over 12 trucks laden with petroleum products and granites at the Otovwodo axis.
A similar protest also occurred in Effurun where the youths blocked the highway preventing vehicular movement and other economic activities, chanting solidarity songs calling for an end to alleged EFCC’s harassment.
So far, about fifteen suspects have been arrested in connection with the protest.
This is coming barely a week after officials of the anti-graft agency stormed Warri where they reportedly arrested no fewer than 95 suspected internet fraudsters.
The suspects were reportedly nabbed at Adesa Ughonton and Jedda areas of Warri for suspected fraudulent internet-related activities, during a sting operation carried out by personnel of the Port Harcourt Zonal Command of the anti-graft agency on Thursday, 29 September.