The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced the arrest of 37 internet fraud suspects in Anambra State, following a tragic incident in which one of its officers, Aminu Sahabi Salisu, was killed in the line of duty. The EFCC clarified the circumstances surrounding the officer’s death and issued a warning against false narratives circulating online regarding the incident.
In a statement released by Dele Oyewale, the Head of Media and Publicity for the EFCC, the commission expressed its grief over the loss of Salisu, an Assistant Superintendent of the EFCC, who was shot dead on January 17, 2025. According to the EFCC, Salisu and other investigators were conducting a legitimate operation to arrest suspected internet fraudsters in Awka, Anambra State, when they encountered resistance from one of the suspects, Dr. Joshua Chukwubueze Ikechukwu.
The operation had been progressing smoothly, with 37 suspects apprehended at a two-storey building where Ikechukwu and others were residing. However, when Ikechukwu noticed the investigators via a CCTV camera mounted at his door, he refused to open the door, despite the officers’ polite requests. Ikechukwu then opened fire on the officers, resulting in Salisu’s death and the injury of another officer.
The EFCC confirmed through preliminary investigations that Ikechukwu was involved in internet fraud, specifically in coding and online medical supplies of dubious legitimacy. Two laptops, iPads, and other recording devices were recovered from his apartment, further linking him to cybercrime activities. Though Ikechukwu remains in police custody due to the violent nature of his crime, the EFCC has assured the public that it will prosecute him.
The EFCC also warned that internet fraudsters are increasingly becoming a threat to public safety, with involvement in other criminal activities such as kidnapping, banditry, and ritual killings. The commission urged Nigerians not to trivialize these criminals as “Yahoo boys and girls,” as their actions endanger public security.
The commission also condemned the circulation of false and irresponsible narratives surrounding the incident. In its statement, the EFCC expressed outrage at the efforts of certain individuals to rationalize the murder of a dedicated officer. The commission emphasized that no justification could excuse the attack, and it called for the public to respect the grieving family, the commission, and the nation, avoiding false speculation.
Finally, the EFCC vowed to take a firm stance against any future attacks on its officers. “Any subsequent attacks on our officers will be met with the full force of the law,” the commission asserted.
