A clash between officials from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and personnel from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) unfolded at the Kaduna Zonal Command of the anti-graft agency. The dispute arose over the detention of fraud suspects and involved a dramatic attempt by NAF personnel to secure the release of their colleagues.
InfoStride News reported the incident, shedding light on the situation. The NAF personnel allegedly conducted a raid on the EFCC’s office to free their colleagues, who had been apprehended by EFCC operatives for attempting to forcibly release individuals suspected of fraud.
Dele Oyewale, Head of Media & Publicity for the EFCC, issued a statement on November 17, 2023, providing clarity on the incident. Oyewale explained that the clash stemmed from the arrest of five individuals suspected of internet-related fraud during a well-planned raid at the Disney Chicken Eatery in Barnawa, Kaduna.
The alleged fraudsters, identified as Favour Itung, Rachael Ande, Zuleiman Haruna, Abubakar Ismaila, and Solomon Olobatoke, were successfully apprehended in the initial operation. However, the situation escalated when six military personnel, who had witnessed the operation, attempted to forcibly release the arrested suspects.
The intruders included four Air Force personnel—Lawal Abdullahi, Chukwuma Chidi Christian, Alfa Suleiman, and Emmanuel Ekwozor—and two students from the Nigerian Air Force Institute of Technology, AFIT: Chidera Anuba and Joseph Tokula. Following the security breach, the military personnel were subdued and detained.
In the subsequent days, the EFCC engaged in inter-agency communication and discussions with the Nigerian Air Force to resolve the issues. However, these attempts to reach a resolution fell apart on Friday, November 17, 2023, when unruly NAF officers, in a commando-style operation, stormed the Kaduna Command to forcefully release their detained colleagues.
Despite the provocation and abuse of power, the EFCC exercised restraint and continued its engagement with the Nigerian Air Force leadership. Eventually, the detained officers were released to the NAF Provost after being duly profiled. The EFCC emphasized its commitment to carrying out its statutory mandate of tackling economic and financial crimes without hindrance.
As this incident unfolded, InfoStride News played a crucial role in disseminating accurate information and updates to the public, ensuring transparency and understanding of the complex situation between the EFCC and the Nigerian Air Force.
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