A Nigerian man, Akanimo Nseobon, has called out EFCC officials for allegedly assaulting young men during a raid at the Akwa Ibom State University, Obio-Akwu campus last night, October 23. The security operatives had stormed the campus to effect the arrests of suspected internet fraudsters.
A video recorded during the raid shows some of the officers hitting the suspects who did not resist arrest with weapons.
Condemning the arrest, the Nseobong called on the state government to investigate the incident. He questioned the motive of the operatives who invaded the student lodge.
‘’PUBLIC CALL TO ACTION
I am calling on the Akwa Ibom State Government, Pastor Umo Eno the Nigeria Police Force, Timfon John and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to urgently investigate the illegal operations currently being carried out by some officers within the EFCC and Police Force in Akwa Ibom State.
These agencies, who are meant to protect the people, have turned against the citizens, especially students. They now target student dominated areas, break into apartments at midnight, beat up students, make illegal arrests, and extort them of their hard earned money.
I was a victim myself in 2024. My friends and I were arrested late at night from our lodge and taken in a mini bus to the Akwa Ibom State Police Headquarters at Ikot Akpan Abia. Instead of taking us to the main station for documentation, we were taken to the tuck shop area, where we were threatened that they would frame us for robbery, cultism, or illegal possession of firearms if we did not pay up. They even boasted that they could submit weapons to “prove” their false claims. Out of fear, we all paid. They emptied our bank accounts and dropped us off at Aka Road, Uyo, around 1am.
The video below, which reportedly took place last night at a student lodge near Akwa Ibom State University, Obio Akpa campus, is just one of the many cases of these illegal operations.
Why are EFCC officers in Akwa Ibom state breaking into student lodges at night?
Why do they have to beat up students during arrests?
Why can’t they carry out proper, legal arrests if they truly have evidence?
The streets of Uyo are now filled with police checkpoints targeting every decent looking young man. Many of them are harassed, threatened, and extorted daily.
We should not live in fear of the very people meant to protect us. Yet, our justice system has failed us, and both the past and present administrations in Akwa Ibom have done absolutely nothing to address this growing menace.
So many young people are leaving this state and even this country because they fear becoming the next victim of these robbers in uniform.
Say NO to illegal arrests.
Say NO to arrests without warrants.
Say NO to extortion.
Say NO to robbers in uniform.”
