The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has urged parents and guardians to caution their children and wards against participating in a planned protest organized by a “shadowy group” opposed to its operations.
EFCC Spokesperson Dele Oyewale issued the warning in a statement provided to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to Oyewale, the group has been actively campaigning on social media, targeting impressionable young Nigerians, including students, to take up arms against the EFCC. He stated, “In the last couple of days, the group has been actively campaigning on social media, recruiting impressionable young Nigerians, including students, to take up ‘arms’ against the EFCC.”
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The planned protest aims to resist the anti-graft commission’s operations, particularly those related to cybercrime enforcement. Oyewale expressed concern over the campaign, saying, “This insidious campaign is being promoted as resistance to the operational activities of the commission, especially in respect to the enforcement of the laws on cybercrimes.”
He further highlighted that the protest appears to be a strategy by corrupt elements under investigation or prosecution to instigate a national uprising that could jeopardize the country’s peace and security.
“The commission, while not averse to protests by citizens, is alarmed by emerging evidence that suggests a grand design by corrupt elements under investigation or prosecution by the commission to exploit the so-called protest. This is to orchestrate a national uprising that may threaten the peace and security of our dear nation,” Oyewale added.
As a responsible law enforcement organization, the EFCC emphasized that it would not tolerate any law and order disruptions, particularly around its offices across Nigeria. Oyewale noted, “EFCC, working in concert with sister security agencies, is therefore taking necessary measures to deal with possible threats to the peace and security of Nigeria.”
The commission also appealed to parents, guardians, and heads of tertiary institutions to ensure their wards are not manipulated into participating in what he described as a proxy war against the EFCC by vested corrupt interests.
“The war being waged by the commission against corruption and cybercrime is to protect the future of the youth of this country,” Oyewale stated, adding that Nigeria’s global reputation would suffer if it became further known as a hub for fraudsters.
