Protests at Governor’s office as angry Youths take to the streets over EFFC invasion of night clubs

Protests at Governor’s office as angry Youths take to the streets over EFFC invasion of night clubs

Some youths in Akure, the Ondo State capital, have caused a gridlock around the city, in protest against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operation carried out in some nightclubs in the state over the weekend.

According to the youths, many of those arrested by the agency were held on unjustly.

The protesters had different placards with various inscriptions such as “End EFCC,” “EFCC free our brothers,” “We don’t scam, give us jobs,” and “EFCC stop the extortion and harassment.”

The youths who includes sympathizers, families, and friends of the suspects, protested to the Governor’s office in Alagbaka, Akure.

The protest, which lasted several hours, was taken to the Governor’s office in Alagbaka, causing traffic jam within the state capital.

Passengers were forced to use commercial motorcycles, while many were stranded in the gridlock.

Recall that the operatives of the anti-graft agency busted two popular nightclubs in Akure over the weekend, apprehending fun-seekers, including a groom-to-be and his friends at a bachelor’s Eve.

Operatives of the agency were said to have seized mobile phones, and vehicles belonging to those arrested.

However, while commenting on the incident, the Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the EFCC disclosed that it arrested 127 suspected internet fraudsters.

Residents of the state were not pleased with the operation of the EFCC officers as some youths on Monday in Akure protested against the action of the anti-graft agency.

One of the leaders of the protesters, Oluwaseun Ogunmola, who spoke with Punch disclosed that the night operation of the anti-graft agency was against the order of its Chairman, who recently cancelled night operations.

Ogunmola said: “In Nigeria now, youths cannot use phones, laptops, or drive cars because EFCC sees them as fraudsters.

“Our ladies were whisked away; did they also commit any offense? This is pure brutality. Enough is enough, and we must put an end to this.

“We demand justice in these actions; the Federal Government should please look into this case because we can’t continue to live like this.”

While addressing the protesters, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Tayo Oluwatuyi, and State Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye, promised the protesters that the state government would work towards releasing those who were arrested.

Oluwatuyi, pleaded to the protesters not to fight or inconvenient anybody, vowing to reach out to the EFCC office in Ibadan, Oyo State to make sure those arrested were released.

The state Police command in a statement by the police spokesperson Funmi Odunlami, explained that “the Command is inundated with complaints about the recent sting operations carried out by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Akure, the Ondo State capital, and the controversies generated.

“The Police, on receipt of the information on the sting operations at about 03:30hrs of 09/06/2024, made contact with relevant stakeholders to ensure there was no breakdown of law and order in the state.

“Thus, the Command calls for peace to allow relevant authorities to look into the matter with a view to addressing the complaints and concerns of aggrieved residents.”

“The Command recognizes the constitutional rights of citizens to peaceful protest, but these rights must be exercised without breaching public order and infringing on the rights of other law-abiding citizens, as the Police owe it a duty to protect the rights of all citizens and foreign nationals resident within or transiting through the State at all times.

“We appeal to the good people of Ondo State, especially the youths who claimed to have been adversely affected by the sting operation, to act with restraint and comport themselves within the ambits of the laws of the land.

“While urging victims and their sympathizers to calm their frayed nerves and follow laid down procedures in channeling their complaints to appropriate authorities for possible redress and not embark on a self-help mission that can lead to a breakdown of law and order in the State.”