Hoodlums attack EFCC officials in Kaduna

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on election monitoring duty in Kaduna State came under attack at School Road, Unguwan Rimi, Kaduna, while attempting to arrest a suspected vote buyer.

Spokesperson of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, who disclosed this, said the team, working on intelligence on the alleged activities of one Kabiru Musa, who was seen in an amateur video allegedly inducing eligible voters by using his phone to transfer money into their accounts as they cast their votes, had mobilised to the scene to arrest the suspect.

However, immediately he was accosted by the operatives, Musa became unruly and screamed to attract the attention of members of his syndicate, who descended on the operatives, using all manner of weapons that left some of them injured.

Uwujaren said it took great restraints for the operatives to ignore the unprovoked attack even as they insisted on arresting the suspect.

“As the team drove away with the suspect, their vehicle was pelted with stones and other dangerous objects that damaged the windshield and three operatives suffered varying degrees of injuries in the process.

“The injured operatives are currently receiving medical attention at the Medical Centre of the Kaduna Zonal Command, while the suspect is in custody, pending conclusion of the investigation,” he added.

Reacting to the incident, Executive Chairman of the Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, commended the operatives for exercising great restraint under extreme provocation.

He however appealed to the public to desist from attacking officers of the Commission, warning that such action would no longer be tolerated.

Recall that EFCC teams were similarly attacked in some areas during the presidential and National Assembly elections, leaving some of their vehicles badly damaged.