The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has denied using brutal force to arrest the 127 suspected internet fraudsters at two clubs in Akure, Ondo State, including two ladies.
In a statement titled “EFCC Akure Arrest: Setting the Records Straight, signed by its spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, on Sunday, the agency stressed it would subject the trending video to forensic analysis and establish its falsehood in order to prepare a case against ‘purveyors of the distasteful stunt.”
While calling on the people to ignore the video, Oyewale noted: “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 canister of tear gas nor whips, to inflict bodily injuries on suspects.”
Oyewale also explained that no damage was done to the CCTV facility at the scene of the arrest, noting that the device was removed by a staff of the club at the instance of operatives of the Commission to preserve the footage for further analysis of the role of each of the arrested suspects in the alleged crime.
“Specifically, one of the arrested suspects, the manager of the Club, who confessed to the crime and directed the removal of the CCTV device for further investigative works by the Commission, is in the custody of the EFCC with the CCTV. He is assisting in the investigation of the crime.” He added
He said the profiling of suspects arrested at the scene of the crime has been completed, and they will be prosecuted accordingly.