By LOVETH AZODO, Lagos
The tragic loss of an anti-graft officer in a violent encounter with suspected cybercriminals known as ‘Yahoo Boys’ has cast a harsh light on the precarious conditions under which operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) work.
As shocking as the killing was, the revelation that personnel insurance for EFCC officers has been discontinued for years added a grim layer of anguish to the tragedy.
“We no longer have life insurance,” an officer said, speaking under anonymity. “The last time family members of an officer who died on duty were compensated was under Farida Waziri. So the families of the officer that died today won’t be getting anything. So can we say he died for nothing?”
The fallen officer, an assistant superintendent who had recently completed a promotional examination, was fatally shot on Friday morning in Anambra.
A team of EFCC operatives had embarked on a mission from their zonal headquarters in Enugu to apprehend suspected internet fraudsters, widely known as Yahoo Boys. However, the operation turned deadly when the suspects opened fire on the officers, killing one on the spot and critically injuring another.
As of Friday night, the injured officer remained hospitalised in critical condition, while the EFCC grappled with the grim aftermath of the attack. A male suspect has been arrested for the murder, though his identity has not been disclosed.
The agency has withheld the name of the deceased officer to allow for official notification of his family. Yet, even as his colleagues mourn his death, they expressed outrage over what they described as the EFCC’s abandonment of its operatives.
Anti-graft agents lamented that the absence of a functioning insurance policy left them vulnerable, with families of fallen officers often left to fend for themselves. The officer’s death has reignited calls for better welfare policies for those risking their lives to combat financial crimes.
The attack also highlighted an alarming shift in the tactics of suspected Yahoo Boys, who were previously regarded as unarmed and relatively easy to apprehend. EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede has been recalibrating the agency’s approach to tackling white-collar criminals, but Friday’s incident underscored the escalating dangers involved.
According to reports, A spokesman for the EFCC said he would look into the incident, while the Anambra police declined immediate comment.
As the family of the deceased officer grapples with their devastating loss, his colleagues are left to wonder if his sacrifice will prompt any meaningful change. “It is heartbreaking,” one officer said. “We are expected to put our lives on the line, but what happens when we fall?”
Source: The Gazette
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