Officials of the Delta State Police Command have arrested some fake Economic and Financial Crimes Commission operatives in the state over alleged break-ins, kidnappings and extortion of unsuspecting victims.
Gatekeepers News reports that the arrest follows a series of complaints received from members of the public, especially from the youths, alleging that the EFCC operatives usually break into their houses at night, forcefully arrest them, take them away and extort huge sums of money from them.
The Police Public Relations Officer for Delta, DSP Bright Edafe confirmed the development in a statement on Friday.
According to the statement, the rise in the complaints partly gave rise to the “End EFCC” protest in Ughelli that led to the burning of over 13 trucks and the destruction of properties sometimes ago.
The statement reads: “The Command on 23/11/2022 arrested five fake EFCC operatives whose anticidents led to the “END EFCC” PROTEST in Delta. They are, (1) Prince Allison ‘m’ age 29yrs, who claimed to be an EFCC contract staff in Portharcourt, (2) George Chisom Onyeweagu ‘m’ 29yrs resident in Owerri, (3) Duke Okoro ‘m’ age 40years resident in Asaba Delta State, (4)Joseph Osinachi ‘m’ age 23yrs, resident in Lagos State, (5) Onyocha Stanley ‘m’ age 32yrs, resident in Owerri.
“The suspects have admitted to have robbed different victims from various parts of the State. Six of their victims have also identified them, one of their victims stated that his house was stormed at night by the syndicate, they gained entrance into the compound by scaling the fence, broke into his apartment, forcefully abducted and took him away in a white Toyota Hiace bus.
“They forcefully collected his phones from him, other valuables worth three million, seven hundred thousand naira (#3,700,000), made cash transfer of two million, five hundred thousand naira (#2,500,000) and told him that they will come for him again.
“Five other victims also reported to the Command and made statements of how they were robbed of about fifteen million naira (#15,000,000). Manhunt for the other members of the gang is ongoing.”
