By Asuquo Cletus Felix
The Economic And Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, has denied brutalizing suspects during a raid in Akure the Ondo State capital.
Acting based on credible intelligence. It also alleged that the party was initially scheduled for Wednesday, June 5, 2024 but was later moved to Saturday to beat the intelligence network.
Our correspondent who visited the premises of the raid on Sunday afternoon, observed that the club was deserted. Although our correspondent could not get any response from the respondent at the premises, our correspondent had observed on various social media videos, where the anti-graft agency were alleged to have flogged two ladies with whips.
In a reaction posted late Sunday evening on Facebook, titled “EFCC’s Akure Arrests : Setting the Records Straight”. EFCC noted that its operatives had conducted themselves professionally.
It noted that no suspect was assaulted, brutalised or subjected to any dehumanising treatment during the Saturday operation.
” Arising from the misinformation and distortion of facts about the arrest of 127 suspected internet fraudsters by operatives of the Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Saturday, June 8, 2024, it becomes imperative to clearly present the true facts of the operation.
“The Operatives executed a classical sting operation at two Clubs simultaneously in Akure based on credible intelligence, leading to the arrest of the suspected fraudsters. The operation, in line with the established ground norm for such engagement, was devoid of any incident as the Operatives conducted themselves professionally.
“It was therefore shocking to be confronted with narratives particularly from the social media about brutalisation, including a trending video of two ladies showing bodies lacerated by whips. The Commission wants the public to discountenance this video as it may have been stage managed to achieve motives that are unclear. The Commission will subject this video to forensic analysis to establish its falsehood and prepare a case against purveyors of this distasteful stunt.
“The Commission wishes to state that no suspect was assaulted, brutalised or subjected to any dehumanising treatment during the Saturday operation. It is also false that tear gas was fired at the crime scene. Those familiar with the Commission’s operations know that EFCC personnel do not use tear gas during sting operations. The officers that carried out the arrests neither came to the scene of crime with a canister of tear gas nor whips, to inflict bodily injuries on suspects.
“It is also important to state that no damage was done to the CCTV facility at the scene of the arrest. The device was removed by a staff of the Club at the instance of operatives of the Commission to preserve the footages for further analysis of the role of each of the arrested suspects in the alleged crime. Specifically, one of the arrested suspects, the manager of the Club, who confessed to the crime and directed the removal of the CCTV device for further investigative works by the Commission, is in the custody of the EFCC with the CCTV. He is assisting in the investigation of the crime. “- It reads in part.
