The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has labelled the killer of its Assistant Superintendent Sahabi Salisu during a midnight operation in Awka, Anambra State, as kidnappers and ritual killers masquerading as Yahoo boys and girls.

According to the commission, the officers were on legitimate duty on January 17, 2025, before being attacked by a suspected internet fraudster, Joshua Chukwubueze Ikechukwu.

EFCC Spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, who gave the clarification on Sunday in Abuja, informed the public that the activities of internet fraudsters are becoming patently hazardous to public safety and security.

He added that intelligence has shown that the criminals are carrying arms and involved in kidnapping, banditry, ritual killings, and other deadly acts.

He said, “The EFCC also wishes to alert the public that the activities of internet fraudsters are becoming patently hazardous to public safety and security. The public should not fold its arms or allow itself to be deceived that they are mere ‘Yahoo boys and girls.’

“Intelligence has shown that these criminals are carrying arms, involved in kidnapping, banditry, ritual killings, and other deadly acts.”

Disclosing that the suspect is currently in police custody due to the murderous dimension of his case, Oyewale added that the commission will surely bring him to trial.

He added, “As for the EFCC, every subsequent attack on any of its officers will be met with the force of the law. The Commission will not fold its arms and allow any of its officers to be killed again in cold blood.

“As a law enforcement agency of repute, the EFCC is unrelenting in ridding the nation of internet fraud and other acts of corruption.”

Expressing grief over the loss of Salisu, Oyewale insisted that the operation was duly documented at the Anambra State Command Headquarters and Area Command of the Nigeria Police in line with operational protocols.

He stressed, “Additionally, the Commission views with great concern the irresponsible, callous, inhuman, and outrageous narratives being circulated on social media about the why and wherefores of the fatal incident.

“It is heinous to reduce the death of a gallant officer who was carrying out patriotic and official duties to social media razzmatazz.

“More worrisome is the fact that some faceless commentators are pitching their tents with an alleged criminal who unleashed terror on officers of the EFCC in their line of duty. There is no justification whatsoever to rationalise a murderous act.

“The milk of human kindness demands that a grieving family, commission, and nation should be spared the shenanigans of false narratives and conjectures about the death of the slain officer.”

Salisu, alongside other investigators of the EFCC, was at Dr. J.O. Ukwutinife Close, Ifite, Awka, Anambra State, to arrest some suspected internet fraudsters in the early hours of January 17.

“The operation was initially smooth sailing, with 37 suspected internet fraudsters already arrested at a two-storey building housing Ikechukwu and other occupants of the house.

“However, Ikechukwu, who sighted the investigators through a CCTV camera mounted at his doorpost and who also confessed to sighting them, declined to open his door for the investigators, who politely demanded entrance to his apartment.

“Defying all the introductions and physical sighting of the investigators, he resorted to firing shots at them, killing Salisu in the process and wounding another officer detailed to conduct a search in his apartment.

“Preliminary investigations showed that Ikechukwu was involved in coding and online medical supplies of doubtful legitimacy.

“Two laptops, iPads, and several recording devices were recovered from his apartment, and his involvement in internet fraud is already established.”

“While mourning the loss of its officer who paid the supreme price in the service of the nation, the Commission appreciates the invaluable support, condolences, and prompt response of sister agencies and well-meaning individuals standing shoulder to shoulder with it at this trying time.”

In this article