~ BROUGHT TO YOU BY COALITION OF ENUGU STATE YOUTHS MANDATE.
It is one thing for the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC) to be an anti-graft agency in Nigeria, but it is also another thing altogether for such an agency to carry out its operations within the limits of due process, intelligence gathering, rules of engagement and proper investigations.
The ugly situation on the 16th of September 2021 at about 22hrs in Castle Majestic Hotel, Ogui Enugu, Enugu State, when and where the overzealous operatives of the EFCC, masquerading under the guise that they are searching for yahoo boys, invaded, raided and maimed the unsuspecting management of the said Hotel.
Disrupting the Lawful South East Youths and Students leaders Security Summit, attacked the hotel customers with teargas coupled with shooting sporadically into the air, injured some of the Hotel staff and whisked some of them away to the location later identified as their zonal office in Independence layout Enugu and subsequently switching off their victims handsets thereby rendering them incommunicado on the process. Without the due diligence of proper investigations is reprehensible, shamefully, outdated and uncalled for.
Recall that not too long ago in Nigeria’s most recent history under President Muhammad Buhari, the viral #endsars protests across the entire country was as a result of the overt abuse of citizens fundamental human rights perpetrated by the overzealous officers and Men of the Nigerian police force from the then notorious Special Anti Robbery Squad, otherwise known as SARS.
When in Enugu State, we found it herculean to contain the escalation of tension and the attendant security breach occasioned by the #endsars upheaval albeit the good disposition of our home state Government.
We hereby use this medium to sound a note of advice to the leadership of EFCC in Enugu State, to desist from the stone age era of archaic and obsolete modus operandi of net casting and random arrest of innocent youths and people in our dear Enugu State, and adopt a civilized relationship method of global best practices.
May it please you (EFCC Operatives) to note that the safe and secure environment in Enugu State with the favourable business enabling atmosphere so far attained under this dedicated leadership commitment in Enugu State at the moment, together with the robust physical infrastructure along with the willing investors who have accepted the challenge of our home state Government in sharing the frontiers of development must never be discouraged.
This is because when Government security outfits and their agents who is made to protect law abiding citizens (corporate and private) turns around to hound them, then the integrity, purpose, legitimacy as well as sincerity of such a government outfit becomes unavoidably questionable.
Be informed also that the expansion of economic opportunities of the good people of our dear state, especially in the hospitality business sector such as jobs creation, services and other ancillary benefits related thereto must not and will never be allowed to be frustrated and sabotaged by some overzealous and belligerent operatives of your outfit under the pretentious guise and wicked cover of looking for fraudstars or yahoo boys.
The EFCC must not recruit operatives with any history of psychic challenges or criminal inclinations with such potentials to further damage the already battered image of Nigeria’s global security perception and then continue to make unnecessary enemies out of our teeming youthful population, other civilians of Enugu State and hospitality business owners in Enugu State in particular.
We hereby demand an unreserved public apology from the EFCC within 10 working days from the date of this press release.
Finally, we hereby use this medium to let the EFCC know that this wicked, malicious invasion and assault on the Castle Majestic Hotel must be the last of such unwarranted provocation in our dear always peaceful and secure Enugu State.
THIS MESSAGE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE CONCERNED COALITION OF ENUGU STATE YOUTHS MANDATE (CESYM)
