'There was no shoot out' - EFCC denies shooting Yahaya Bello protesters

The EFCC operatives only dispersed the protesters who went to the commission’s headquarters to disrupt activities.

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), has denied the allegation of shooting at pro-Yahaya Bello protesters at its headquarters on Monday in Abuja.

A spokesman for the commission, Dele Oyewale said this while responding to a video trending on social media on the allegation of attack by the. EFCC operatives on protesters.

Oyewale told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that there was no shooting at any protester at the commission on Monday. He said the operatives only dispersed the protesters who went to the commission’s headquarters to disrupt activities.

"No arrests were made as claimed by the group. Two groups demonstrated at the commission today. The first group came with a letter of commendation in support of the EFCC anti-corruption fight.

"They presented their letter, which was received by the Director of Public Enlightenment Department, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, who promised to deliver their message to the chairman.

"Not quite long after, another group came, these people were violent and destructive, and the men of the commission had to chase them away.

"It is not true, nobody was arrested and there was no shoot out,” he said.

NAN reports that the pro-Yahaya Bello, the immediate past governor of Kogi came to protest his alleged political persecution. The pro-Bello protest was staged by the Kogi Youth Coalition, they claimed they were attacked by operatives of the commission.

The group claimed that the first group of protesters were allowed into the commission but the pro-Yahaya Bello group were denied entry. Videos of the protesters struggling to make their statements while being harassed and scampering for safety flooded social media with a picture of a badly damaged vehicle.

The group claimed that at least, 10 of the members were arrested while many were injured. They said they staged the protest to counter what they described as an EFCC-sponsored protest in their support vowed to resist the intimidation, and urged President Bola Tinubu to call EFCC to order.

The Head of the Kogi Youth Coalition, Otitoleke Richard, while speaking on the attack said:

“We’re here this morning at the headquarters of EFCC in Abuja, addressing a topical national issue that has to do with the rule of law, the defence of democratic governance in Nigeria.

“We have been intimidated, we have been harassed. The EFCC is saying we do not have the right to express our opinion on national issues.

"We have been shot at; they have used their stick to beat ordinary Nigerians that are harmless.

“We shall continue to air our opinion for democracy to thrive in Nigeria. Nigeria is not a Banana Republic.

"We’re saying the rule of law must be applied in all corruption files. You cannot fight corruption with lawlessness.”

A protester, who simply identified himself as Malik, said it was unfortunate that peaceful protests that were a right of every Nigerian had now been made selective by the commission.

“Why didn’t they attempt to disperse those Igala boys that protested against the former governor, can you imagine? EFCC sponsoring Muri Ajaka’s boys to come and support them and call Yahaya Bello out?

“Nigerians should not be fooled to think anybody is fighting any corruption. They just want him out, period.

"But we are saying they can’t disgrace him. He has done more than any governor for us in Kogi and all these people know. This will not make us afraid of asking for our rights. We will continue,” he stated.