The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has provided details about the clash between its operatives at the Kaduna Zonal Command and Nigeria Air Force (NAF) officers.
Dele Oyawale, the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, explained in a statement on Friday that the agency arrested five suspects on Monday, November 13, 2023, at a residential inn and Disney Chicken Eatery in Barnawa, Kaduna, following credible intelligence about their alleged internet-related fraud activities.
The suspects, identified as Favour Itung, Rachael Ande, Zuleiman Haruna, Abubakar Ismaila, and Solomon Olobatoke, were apprehended without incident, according to him.
“After the sting operation at Disney Chicken Eatery, six military personnel who witnessed the operation stormed the Kaduna Command and attempted to forcibly release the arrested fraud suspects,” Oyewale added. They were apprehended and detained as a result of the security breach.
“The intruders are four Air Force personnel, Lawal Abdullahi, Chukwuma Chidi Christian, Alfa Suleiman, and Emmanuel Ekwozor, as well as two AFIT students, Chidera Anuba and Joseph Tokula.”
“While detained, there was inter-agency communication and discussions by the EFCC and NAF leadership to resolve the issues.”
“Unfortunately, dialogue on the release of the combative Air Force personnel broke down on Friday, November 17, 2023, when some unruly NAF officers stormed the Kaduna Command in commando-style to forcefully release their detained colleagues.”
He stated that, in the face of evident provocation, the commission displayed restraint and released the officers to the NAF Provost after they were profiled.
Mismob Media