Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested military officers for allegedly involving in Internet fraud.
DAILY GIST gathered that those arrested included one serving officer from the Nigerian Army and seven operatives from the Nigerian Air Force.
These individuals were initially arrested by the Kaduna State zonal office of the anti-graft agency Monday and held in the commission’s custody for further investigation and potential prosecution.
However, a conflict and dramatic turn of events arose on Friday when armed NAF soldiers stormed the EFCC office in the state capital to secure the release of their detained colleagues.
Arriving in five Hilux patrol vans, the soldiers surrounded the main gate of the commission, effectively blocking entry and exit for EFCC officials.
The confrontation led to a heated exchange between the Air Force personnel and EFCC security operatives.
Both parties engaged in a shouting match and even threatened each other with violence.
Following the development, the EFCC zonal head and the leader of the Air Force team held a brief meeting, effectively bringing the situation under control.
As a result, the suspects were released.
In response to the incident, the spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, stated that the commission decided to release the suspects after completing its investigation and forensic profiling.
Oyewale clarified that the release and handover of the suspects to their respective agencies did not adhere to the commission’s standard operating procedure.
However, he emphasized that the suspects would still face charges in court at the appropriate time despite their release to their agency.
