POLICE CALLS FOR CALM AS YOUTHS PROTEST ASSAULT BY EFCC OPERATIVES IN ONDO

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In response to allegations of abuse by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) agents, young people in Akure, the capital of Ondo State, invaded key thoroughfares. The Ondo State Police Command has since issued an appeal for calm.

Early on Saturday morning, EFCC agents broke into two nightclubs in Akure and took 127 young people into custody on suspicion of being online scammers.

The demonstrators said that EFCC agents had harassed the young people, arrested several, and damaged some property.

The demonstrators demanded justice for their friends while brandishing placards to air their complaints.

Saka Ogunleye, Ondo State’s Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, pleaded with the young people to cool off and assured them that the government would take care of the situation.

Concurrently, the EFCC announced on its official X feed that it suspected the 127 young people taken into custody during the raids of being online scammers.

The commission said that during the operation, none of the operators physically harmed anyone or caused any property damage.

See Statement below:

10th of June, 2024

PRESS RELEASE

RE: EFFC STING OPERATIONS IN AKURE; ONDO POLICE COMMAND CALLS FOR PEACE.

The Command is inundated with complaints about the recent sting operations carried out by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Akure the Ondo State capital and the controversies generated.

The Police on receipt of the information on the sting operations at about 0330hrs of 09/06/2024 made contact with relevant stakeholders to ensure there was no breakdown of law and order in the state.

The State Government and the Inspector-General of Police have been informed and are taking steps to ensure that all concerns are addressed without prejudice.
Thus, the Command calls for peace to allow relevant authorities look into the matter with a view to addressing the complaints and concerns of aggrieved residents.

The Command recognizes the constitutional rights of citizens to peaceful protest but this rights must be exercised without breach of public order and non infringement on the rights of other law abiding citizens, as the Police owe it a duty to protect the rights of all citizens and foreign nationals resident within or transiting through the State at all times.

We appeal to the good people of Ondo State especially the youths who claimed to have been adversely affected by the sting operation to act with restraint and comport themselves within the ambits of the laws of the land. While urging victims and their sympathizers to calm their frayed nerves and follow laid down procedures in channeling their complaints to appropriate authorities for possible redress and not embark on a self help mission that can lead to break down of law and order in the State.

E-signed
SP. Funmilayo Odunlami -Omisanya, _mnipr,_
Police Public Relations Officer,
For:- Commission