The management of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, Ogun State, has accused operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of staging a violent invasion of its premises in the early hours of Saturday.
The EFCC confirmed that it raided a hotel in the state capital and arrested 93 suspected internet fraudsters, but did not disclose the name or location of the hotel.
EDITOR’S PICKS
OOPL management, however, said more than 50 armed men stormed its complex around 2 a.m., “firing gunshots, threatening to kill people, and causing panic among guests and residents.”
According to the library, the operatives, allegedly led by a man identified only as “Olapade,” targeted a private event at the amusement facility without presenting a search or arrest warrant.
EKO HOT BLOG gathered that the police officers stationed at the library’s gates and those from Kemta Police Station, invited by the event organisers, denied prior knowledge of the raid. Several attendees sustained injuries as they fled the scene which the Obasanjo library management described as “gangster-like induced chaos.”
OOPL has described the incident as an invasion of private property and a violation of the rights of both the establishment and its guests. It is demanding an explanation and an apology from the EFCC, warning it will seek legal redress if necessary.
A Pattern of Heavy-Handed Operations
The controversy adds to growing public criticism over the EFCC’s operational methods, which critics say increasingly resemble those of armed thugs rather than a law enforcement agency.
In October 2023, Nigerian music star Raoul John Njeng-Njeng, popularly known as Skales, accused EFCC personnel of illegally raiding his home at 4 a.m. while he was with his 6-month-old daughter and family. The singer alleged that the operatives broke down his back door, hit his producer with a stick, and seized his phone despite finding nothing incriminating. He also claimed one operative threatened to “rope” him into a crime because of his public complaints about the raid.
Such accounts, critics argue, blur the lines between lawful enforcement and intimidation, particularly when operations are conducted without visible warrants, in the dead of night, and with aggressive force.
When Criminals and Operatives Look the Same
Concerns about the EFCC’s approach have been further amplified by a February 27 incident in Chanchaga Local Government Area of Niger State, in which gunmen disguised as EFCC operatives abducted ten people from White Hill Hotel.
According to counter-insurgency publication Zagazola Makama, the armed men disabled the hotel’s CCTV cameras before entering rooms one by one and taking the guests to an unknown location. The publication said the public had been urged to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements as investigations continued.
Analysts warn that when criminals can convincingly pose as EFCC operatives, it undermines public trust in the agency and erodes the safety of citizens.
Call for a Rethink
While the EFCC maintains its mandate to tackle financial crimes, the backlash over the OOPL raid — combined with past allegations of excessive force and impersonation risks — has fuelled calls for the agency to reassess its operational style.
Critics argue that greater emphasis on daylight operations, clear identification of personnel, visible warrants, and closer coordination with local police could help the EFCC distinguish itself from criminal actors and restore public confidence.
FURTHER READING
Until such changes are made, critics say the agency risks facing the same perception problem at the heart of the OOPL dispute: that in the eyes of the public, EFCC raids look less like lawful enforcement and more like armed thugs on the loose.
Philip Ibitoye is a Special Correspondent with EKO HOT BLOG. Click here to find daily analysis and critical insight on trending issues in Lagos and other parts of Nigeria.
Click here to watch the video of the week below:
