The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said its official, Assistant Superintendent of the EFCC, ASE11 Aminu Sahabi Salisu who was killed in Anambra State was on legitimate duty and was fully documented.
Expressing grief over the loss of Salisu who was killed in cold blood while on a legitimate duty on January 17, 2025 by a suspected internet fraudster, Joshua Chukwubueze Ikechukwu, the Commission said it views with great concern the irresponsible, callous, inhuman and outrageous narratives being circulated on social media on the the reasons behind the incident.
EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale said, “It is heinous to reduce the death of a gallant officer who was carrying out patriotic and official duties to social media razzmatazz.
“More worrisome is the fact that some faceless commentators are pitching their tents with an alleged criminal who unleashed terror on officers of the EFCC in their line of duty. There is no justification whatsoever to rationalise a murderous act.
“The milk of human kindness demands that a grieving family, Commission and nation should be spared the shenanigans of false narratives and conjectures on the death of the slain officer.”
The EFCC further stated that Salisu, alongside other investigators were at Dr. J.O. Ukwutinife Close, Ifite, Awka in Anambra State to arrest some suspected internet fraudsters in the early hours of January 17.
“The operation was duly documented at the Anambra State Command Headquarters and Area Command of the Nigeria Police in line with operational protocols.
“The operation was initially smooth-sailing with 37 suspected internet fraudsters already arrested at a two-storey building housing Ikechukwu and other occupants of the house.
“However, Ikechukwu, who sighted the investigators through a CCTV Camera mounted at his doorpost and who also confessed sighting them, declined to open his door for the investigators who politely demanded entrance to his apartment.
“Defying all the introduction and physical sighting of the investigators, he resorted to firing shots at them and killed Salisu in the process and wounded another officer detailed to conduct a search in his apartment.
“Preliminary investigations showed that Ikechukwu was involved in coding and online medical supplies of doubtful legitimacy. Two laptops, iPads, several recording devices were recovered from his apartment and his involvement in internet fraud is already established.
“Though currently in police custody owing to the murderous dimension of his case, the Commission will surely bring him to trial,” Oyewale assured.
