The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Kaduna Zonal Command, experienced panic as Air Force personnel in a commando-style stormed the facility attempted to release their detained colleagues.
The incident stemmed from the EFCC’s arrest of five suspected fraudsters on November 13, 2023, at a Kaduna Inn and Disney Chicken Eatery.
The arrested suspects include: Favour Itung, Rachael Ande, Zuleiman Haruna, Abubakar Ismaila, and Solomon Olobatoke.
Following the operation, six military personnel witnessed the arrests and attempted to forcibly release the fraud suspects.
These military personnels were detained for the security breach, prompting their colleagues to invade the EFCC command in a bid to free them according to Dele Oyewale, Head of Media & Publicity in a statement on Friday.
He stated that four Air Force personnel—Lawal Abdullahi, Chukwuma Chidi Christian, Alfa Suleiman, and Emmanuel Ekwozor—along with two AFIT students—Chidera Anuba and Joseph Tokula—were involved.
He explained that the action of the NAF personnels despite inter-agency communication and discussions between EFCC and the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) leadership to resolve the matter led to the broke of the dialogue on Friday, November 17, 2023.
“Unruly NAF officers stormed the Kaduna Command in a commando-style attempt to release their detained colleagues. Despite facing provocation, the EFCC maintained restraint and continued engagement with the NAF leadership, eventually releasing the officers to the NAF Provost after proper profiling,’ he said.
The EFCC emphasized its commitment to carrying out its statutory mandate of tackling economic and financial crimes without hindrance.
