A group of young people protested against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission agents’ raid on two nightclubs on Monday in Akure, the capital of Ondo State, which resulted in the arrest of 127 individuals.
On Saturday, commission employees barged into nightclubs and took approximately 127 young people into custody on suspicion of engaging in online fraud. Some of those arrested include a man who was celebrating his bachelor’s eve with his friends in one of the raided nightclubs.
Protesters gathered in large numbers in the capital city, chanting anti-graft commission songs and demanding the unconditional release of those detained.
The popular Oba Adesida Road and the governor’s office road experienced heavy traffic as a result of the protest.
Femi Akinremi, a protestor, demanded that the federal government and the state look into the actions of the EFCC staff.
“When did it become illegal for citizens to have fun at nightclubs?” he asked. The guys (EFCC personnel); just entered into the nightclubs and started arresting our friends. Is every young person in clubs into “yahoo yahoo”?
Nonetheless, the EFCC stated that none of the suspects had been subjected to abuse or dehumanization despite acknowledging that the suspects had been apprehended by its employees from the Ibadan Zonal Directorate in Akure. The commission denied the claims in a statement released on Sunday by Dele Oyewale, Head of Media & Publicity.
Oyewale stated that the commission personnel do not use tear gas during sting operations.
The statement partly read, “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 police officers who made the arrests did not arrive at the crime scene brandishing whips or tear gas canisters to hurt the suspects physically.”
