Our reporter
A tragic shooting incident in Onitsha, Anambra State, has resulted in the death of a yet-to-be-identified officer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), with another officer left critically injured.
The attack, which took place on Friday, is believed to have been carried out by suspected Internet fraudsters, often referred to as “Yahoo boys”.
The EFCC operatives, who had travelled from the Commission’s zonal offices in Enugu, were reportedly on a mission to apprehend a group of suspected cyber criminals when they were ambushed by the fraudsters. According to eyewitness accounts, the officers were caught off-guard as the assailants opened fire upon noticing their presence.
In the exchange of gunfire, one officer, an assistant superintendent who had recently passed a promotional examination, was killed instantly. His identity is being withheld pending formal notification to his family. The other officer, who sustained serious injuries, was rushed to a nearby hospital and remained in critical condition as of Friday evening.
Several bystanders were also injured in the chaos as they sought cover from the sudden gunfire.
Anambra State Police Spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident, stating that investigations are already underway. “The suspect has been taken into custody, and the weapon used in the attack has been recovered,” he said. “Further details will be made available as the investigation progresses.”
The EFCC is yet to issue an official statement regarding the attack, but the tragic incident has raised fresh concerns over the escalating violence associated with the fight against Internet fraud in Nigeria.
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