Abuja, Nigeria – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has alerted the public to a planned protest aimed at disrupting its operations.
According to a statement signed by EFCC, Head of Media and Publicity Dele Oyewale, said a shadowy group has been recruiting young Nigerians, including students, on social media to protest against the EFCC’s enforcement of cybercrime laws.
The EFCC has appealed to parents, guardians, and educational institutions to ensure their wards are not exploited by corrupt interests.
The statement reads: “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, wishes to alert the general public on the plan by a shadowy group to instigate a “protest” against the Commission”.
“In the last couple of days, the group has been actively campaigning in the social media, recruiting impressionable young Nigerians, including students to take up “arms” against the EFCC”.
“This insidious campaign is being promoted as resistance to the operational activities of the Commission especially in respect of the enforcement of the laws dealing with cybercrimes”.
“The Commission, while not averse to protests by citizens, is alarmed by emerging evidence that suggest a grand design by corrupt elements under investigation or prosecution by the Commission to exploit the so-called protest to orchestrate a national uprising that may threaten the peace and security of our dear nation”.
“As a responsible law enforcement organisation, the Commission will not tolerate any breakdown of law and order anywhere in the country especially around its office locations across Nigeria”.
“EFCC, working in concert with sister security agencies, is therefore taking necessary measures to deal with possible threats to the peace and security of Nigeria.”.
“The Commission, however, appeals to parents, guardians and heads of tertiary institutions to take responsibility in ensuring that their wards are not recruited to be used as cannon fodder in a proxy war against the Commission by vested corrupt interests”.
“The war being waged by the Commission against corruption and cybercrime is to protect the future of the youth of this country. That future is imperiled if Nigeria degenerates further in global reckoning as a den of fraudsters”, it added.
