EFCC releases military officers detained for security breach

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has released six Nigerian Air Force (NAF) officers arrested in Kaduna State.

The commission had on Monday detained six NAF officers who attempted to free suspected internet fraudsters arrested by its operatives at a residential Inn and Disney Chicken Eatery Barnawa in Kaduna on Monday.

The matter, however, took a twist on Friday morning when some officers stormed the commission’s office in Hilux patrol vans to forcibly release their detained colleagues.

The operatives engaged themselves in a shouting match before normalcy was restored following intervention by senior officers from both sides.

The EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, confirmed the release of the military officers in a statement in Abuja.

He wrote: “Operatives of the Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, November 13, 2023, arrested five suspects at a residential Inn and Disney Chicken Eatery, Barnawa, Kaduna following credible intelligence about their alleged internet- related fraud activities.

“The suspected fraudsters: Favour Itung, Rachael Ande, Zuleiman Haruna, Abubakar Ismaila, and Solomon Olobatoke, were arrested without incident.

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“However, after the sting operation, six military personnel who witnessed the operation at Disney Chicken Eatery stormed the Kaduna Command and attempted to forcibly release the arrested fraud suspects. They were subdued and detained over the security breach.

“The intruders are four Air Force personnel: Lawal Abdullahi, Chukwuma Chidi Christian, Alfa Suleiman, and Emmanuel Ekwozor, and two students of Nigerian Air Force Institute of Technology, AFIT: Chidera Anuba and Joseph Tokula.

“While in detention, there were inter-agency communication and discussions by the leadership of the EFCC and the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) 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 a commando- style, to forcefully release their detained colleagues.

“The EFCC exercised restraint in the face of the provocation and flagrant abuse of power. The Commission continued to engage with the leadership of the Nigeria Air Force and released the officers to the NAF Provost after they had been duly profiled.

“The EFCC wishes to assure the public that it will continue to carry out its statutory mandate of tackling all cases of economic and financial crimes, without let or hindrance.”

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