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Some youths in Akure, Ondo State capital, on Monday protested against the invasion of some night clubs in the state by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The protesters, who kicked against the commando style in which the anti-graft agency invaded the clubs, stated that the destruction of facilities in the clubs was not necessary.
At the weekend, EFCC operatives stormed the popular Signatures and Alba Royale clubs, where 127 suspected internet fraudsters were arrested, including a groom-to-be.
The Ibadan zonal office of the Commission, which confirmed the raid, disclosed that the arrested suspects were picked based on intelligence reports.
Condemning the raid, the protesting youths emphasised that the brutality meted on the suspects by EFCC operatives was uncalled for.
One of the protesters, Oluwaseun Ogunmola, who spoke with journalists, said the raid by the EFCC was contrary to the agency’s ban on night operations.
Ogunmola demanded that those arrested and profiled as internet fraudsters in the Akure clubs be released unconditionally.
Another protester, Tobi Akinnubi, said, “In Nigeria now, youths cannot use phones or laptops; they can’t drive cars because the EFCC sees them as fraudsters.
“Our ladies have been taken away; have they committed any offenses? This is pure brutality. Enough is enough, and we must put an end to this.”
