Mr. Ugochukwu Ezeanyagu, a businessman from Abia State, has narrated the harrowing experience he and his family endured during a late-night raid by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Speaking in an interview with ABN TV, Ezeanyagu recounted how the EFCC stormed his residence at Umuobia Olokoro Estate, Umuahia, around 2 AM on Friday, December 6. The operatives, who suspected him of being involved in internet fraud, arrived heavily armed, with some of them masked.
He described how the officers broke through his gates and doors using hammers, causing panic in his household. They seized his phone and other electronic devices but reportedly found no evidence linking him to any criminal activities.
“The most degrading part was when they ordered my eight-month pregnant wife, who was naked and asleep when they burst into our bedroom, to lie face down on the floor,” he revealed. “They showed no regard for her condition or dignity.”
Ezeanyagu said the operatives later realised they had made a mistake and offered an apology before leaving. However, the damage was already done. His wife, overwhelmed by shock and trauma, had to be hospitalised following the incident.
“This is not how an agency meant to protect citizens should operate,” Ezeanyagu lamented. “They must adopt more professional and humane methods to avoid harming innocent people.”
The businessman has since called for justice and accountability, urging the EFCC to rethink its operational strategies to prevent similar incidents.
This event has sparked renewed debate over the EFCC’s approach to raids, which often result in property destruction and emotional trauma for the victims. A similar case occurred three years ago when EFCC operatives wrongfully raided the home of journalist Norah Okafor, also in Umuahia.
Across Nigeria, concerns continue to mount over the agency’s tendency to conduct late-night operations with minimal oversight. Instances of hotel facilities being damaged during such raids have also been reported, with no consequences for the officials involved.
As public frustration grows, Nigerians are demanding accountability and reform in the EFCC’s operations to prevent further incidents like the one experienced by Mr. Ezeanyagu.
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Reported by Chronicles Reporters.