The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has denied assaulting female attendees during a raid on two nightclubs on Saturday in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
Several social media users shared various videos showing the brutalised buttocks of some female nightclub goers, allegedly carried out by operatives of the EFCC during a raid to apprehend suspected internet fraudsters hosting parties simultaneously in two nightclubs.
The videos, which stirred the irk of social media users, led to many describing the EFCC as the new SARS (a Special Anti-Robbery Squad that is infamous for inflicting various degrees of torture on suspected armed robbers).
However, in a statement on Sunday titled ‘Setting the Records Straight, and signed by Dele Oyewale, Head, Media & Publicity, the Commission refuted the allegations, describing them as misinformation and distortion of facts.”
The EFCC mentioned that the raid on the nightclubs “was devoid of any incident as the operators conducted themselves professionally.”
The EFCC also urges the public to “discount” the videos making the rounds on social media, arguing that they may have been “staged” to achieve “unclear” motives.
The EFCC’s statement reads, “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 operators 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 operators conducted themselves professionally.
“It was therefore shocking to be confronted with narratives, particularly from social media, about brutalization, 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 the crime with canisters 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 member of the club at the instance of operatives of the commission to preserve the footage 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 work by the Commission, is in the custody of the EFCC with the CCTV. He is assisting in the investigation of the crime.
“It is needful to state, for the umpteenth time, that the Standard Operating Procedure of the EFCC forecloses the use of brute force or unprofessional conduct in the course of any operation. The EFCC is a civilised law enforcement agency with optimal respect for human dignity and the rule of law.
“Meanwhile, the profiling of suspects arrested at the scene of the crime has been completed. They will be prosecuted accordingly.”
