Youths in Akure, Ondo State, protested the arrest of 127 people by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission at two nightclubs on Saturday.
The EFCC claims the individuals were suspected of internet fraud, but protesters argue that the raid was violent and that many of those arrested were not involved in any illicit activities.
The EFCC denies allegations of brutality and dehumanization, stating that no tear gas was used during the operation.
According to The PUNCH, one of the protesters, Femi Akinremi, called on the state and the Federal Government to investigate the EFCC personnel’s actions.
He said, “When has it become a crime for citizens to enjoy themselves at nightclubs? The guys (EFCC personnel); just entered into the nightclubs and started arresting our friends. Is it every youth in clubs that is into ‘yahoo yahoo’”
However, the EFCC confirmed the arrest of the suspects by its personnel from the Ibadan Zonal Directorate in Akure but said none of the suspects were brutalized or dehumanized.
The commission in a statement on Sunday by its Head, Media & Publicity, Dele Oyewale, refuted the allegations.
Oyewale stated that the commission personnel do not use tear gas during sting operations.
The statement partly read, “The Commission wishes to state that no suspect was assaulted, brutalised or subjected to any dehumanising treatment during the Saturday operation. It is also false that tear gas was fired at the crime scene. “Those familiar with the Commission’s operations know that EFCC personnel do not use tear gas during sting operations. “The officers that carried out the arrests neither came to the scene of crime with canisters of tear gas nor whips, to inflict bodily injuries on suspects.”
