Concerned Edo youths yesterday declared support for the clampdown by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on internet fraudsters popularly referred to as ‘Yahoo boys’.
Some youths penultimate week staged a protest against the EFCC over the clampdown on some suspected internet fraudsters.
Convener of the group, Comrade Gbale Joseph, while addressing newsmen yesterday, said the protest against the EFCC painted a terrible image.
While calling for the immediate arrest and persecution of all those involved in assaulting police officers he expressed confidence in the EFCC in carrying out its mandate.
“These individuals attempt to cloak their actions under the guise of civic protest, staging rallies or campaigns to claim victimhood. They invoke civic rights as a shield against accountability, framing their arrests as oppression rather than legal consequence.
“This narrative is both dangerous and misleading. It undermines the real essence of civic rights and threatens the integrity of the legitimate struggles for social justice.
“We demand the immediate arrest of those police officers in that viral video where they destroyed a vehicle as a reprisal attack, as they should have conducted themselves as law enforcement officers and not lawbreakers.
“Edo people must support law enforcement agencies as they move to combat crime in the state as no crime is small, because little crimes make up big crimes.
“We urge both the state and federal governments to deepen approach on youth empowerment and job creation, as these crimes are also linked to unemployment and poverty.”
