- By Halimah Olamide
Says ‘We Shall Deal With Troublemakers”
“As a responsible law enforcement organisation, the Commission will not tolerate any breakdown of law and order anywhere in the country especially around its office locations across Nigeria.
Against the backdrop of alleged plots to orchestrate a nationwide protest against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the commission on Wednesday said it would deal very heavily with those plotting the attacks.
The commission said it is in possession of strong evidence that elements under various forms of investigations are encouraging young Nigerians to take arms against the commission’s office in different parts of the country.
It said as a law enforcement organisation, it would seek the help of sister agencies to ensure that those plotting the alleged attacks meet with the full wrath of the law.
A statement by the commission’s spokesman, Dele Oyewale, said on Wednesday that “In the last couple of days, the group has been actively campaigning in the social media, recruiting impressionable young Nigerians, including students to take up “arms” against the EFCC.
“This insidious campaign is being promoted as resistance to the operational activities of the Commission especially in respect of the enforcement of the laws dealing with cybercrimes.”
The Commission said it is not averse to protests by citizens, adding however that it is “alarmed by emerging evidence that suggest a grand design by corrupt elements under investigation or prosecution by the Commission to exploit the so-called protest to orchestrate a national uprising that may threaten the peace and security of our dear nation.”
The commission went further, “As a responsible law enforcement organisation, the Commission will not tolerate any breakdown of law and order anywhere in the country especially around its office locations across Nigeria. EFCC, working in concert with sister security agencies, is therefore taking necessary measures to deal with possible threats to the peace and security of Nigeria.
“The Commission, however, appeals to parents, guardians and heads of tertiary institutions to take responsibility in ensuring that their wards are not recruited to be used as cannon fodder in a proxy war against the Commission by vested corrupt interests.
“The war being waged by the Commission against corruption and cybercrime is to protect the future of the youth of this country. That future is imperilled if Nigeria degenerates further in global reckoning as a den of fraudsters.”
Two weeks ago, some youths went on a protest in the Ondo state capital, Akure after the raid of two hotels where some people alleged to be internet fraudsters were having a party.
The protesters had carried various inscriptions calling for an end to the EFCC.