Suspected internet fraudsters, more commonly known as “Yahoo boys”, have shot dead an officer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) identified only as Salisu and critically injured another in the Awka area of Anambra State.
SaharaReporters learnt that the officers were on a mission to apprehend a group of suspected cybercriminals when they were attacked on Friday morning.
SaharaReporters gathered that a contingent of EFCC officials were assigned from the EFCC Enugu Zonal command to apprehend suspected internet fraudsters in Awka, Anambra State.
“They arrived Awka very early today to the first home of suspected fraudsters, successfully raided and arrested several persons with exhibits, including credit cards and four luxurious vehicles,” a top source informed SaharaReporters on Saturday.
“They then set out to visit another location but reportedly found that they were short-staffed and relocated to a smaller location.
“Upon arriving there, it was a location with several apartments. So they told the gatemen to point them to the place of the person they suspected.
“He refused to open his door, apparently suspecting they might be robbers or kidnappers.
“The person of interest refused to open his door asking who they were to which they responded they were EFCC operatives.”
SaharaReporters learnt that when the suspect refused to open the door, on the claim that the operatives might be robbers or kidnappers.
“The EFCC team proceeded to break into his apartment and the suspect opened fire on the lead person; an EFCC operative known as Salisu.
“He was seriously injured, but still alive with a second operative injured in his left hand. The operatives rushed the operative to a hospital. They arrived at the General Hospital in Awka but there were no doctors. Only two hospital nurses were around who advised them to look for a private hospital,” the top source narrated further.
The EFCC operatives then drove to a hospital named Amaco where the doctor on duty confirmed the EFCC operative dead.
However, he admitted the injured EFCC perative but said there was no way to treat him without blood transfusion.
“All the EFCC operatives dispatched to the night operation had no bulletproof vest just their branded EFCC jackets,” SaharaReporters was told.
Confirming the incident, the Anambra State Police Command spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, stated that investigations were underway.
“Investigation into the sad incident is ongoing. The suspect is in custody, and the firearm has been recovered. Further details shall be communicated, please,” Ikenga said.
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