An anti-graft officer was fatally shot, and another critically inj¥red when suspected internet fraudsters, widely known as Yahoo Boys, opened fire on operatives in Anambra on Friday morning.
The officers, who had traveled from their zonal headquarters in Enugu, were on a mission to apprehend the suspects when the incident occurred.
According to reports, the team was met with unexpected lethal resistance, resulting in the d+ath of an assistant superintendent officer who had recently completed a promotional examination.
A male suspect has been taken into custody in connection with the att+ck. However, his identity has not been disclosed, and it remains unclear if he has legal representation.
The att+ck comes amidst ongoing reforms by EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, who has been recalibrating the agency’s approach to tackling cybercrime. Yahoo Boys were previously believed to be unarmed, making them easier to apprehend.
The development has sparked concerns among EFCC operatives, with some lamenting the lack of adequate personnel insurance. “We no longer have life insurance,” one officer revealed anonymously. “The families of fallen officers have not been compensated since the tenure of Farida Waziri.”
Colleagues of the deceased have expressed fears that his family may not receive any compensation for his sacrifice, raising questions about the agency’s welfare policies for personnel.
According to the Gazette, the deceased officer’s identity has been concealed pending official notification of his family. Efforts to rescue the inj¥red officer, who remains hospitalized in critical condition, are ongoing.
