The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has provided insight into the recent altercation between its operatives at the Kaduna Zonal Command and officers of the Nigeria Air Force (NAF).
According to a statement released on Friday, the EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyawale, clarified that the agency had, on Monday, November 13, 2023, apprehended five suspects at a residential inn and Disney Chicken Eatery in Barnawa, Kaduna, based on credible intelligence regarding their alleged involvement in internet-related fraud activities.
Oyawale explained that the suspects, identified as Favour Itung, Rachael Ande, Zuleiman Haruna, Abubakar Ismaila, and Solomon Olobatoke, were taken into custody without incident.
Following the operation, Oyewale stated, “Six military personnel present at the Disney Chicken Eatery attempted to forcibly release the arrested fraud suspects, which led to a security breach. As a result, they were subdued and detained by our operatives.”
He continued, “The intruders consisted of four Air Force personnel – Lawal Abdullahi, Chukwuma Chidi Christian, Alfa Suleiman, and Emmanuel Ekwozor – as well as two students from the Nigerian Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) – Chidera Anuba and Joseph Tokula.”
“While in detention, there were ongoing inter-agency communications and discussions to address the issues at hand,” Oyewale added.
“Regrettably, attempts to reach a resolution regarding the release of the detained Air Force personnel were unsuccessful, culminating in the forceful infiltration of the Kaduna Command by unruly NAF officers,” he stated.
He further explained that despite the provocation, the EFCC displayed restraint and ultimately handed over the detained officers to the NAF Provost after due profiling.
