Yahoo Boys: ‘EFCC Operative Killed During Anambra Raid Was Planning His Marriage’

An Assistant Superintendent of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Halisu Sahabi, who was fatally shot during a raid in Awka, Anambra State, has been buried in his hometown of Sokoto. Sahabi’s untimely death has left family members and colleagues in mourning.

Naijaonpoint recalls that the EFCC operative was killed on Friday by a suspected internet fraudster during an operation in Ifite, Awka.

The Anambra State Police Command arrested the suspect, a medical doctor named Chukwuka Josiah Ikechukwu Nnamdi, on Saturday.

Police sources who spoke with SaharaReporters revealed that Nnamdi was apprehended while hiding in the ceiling of his neighbour’s home in an attempt to evade arrest.

“The suspect was tracked to his hiding place and arrested while in the ceiling of his neighbour’s room,” a police official said.

The tragic incident occurred when Sahabi and his team conducted a raid targeting alleged internet fraud activities in Awka. The operation turned violent, resulting in the fatal shooting of Sahabi, who was later pronounced dead.

Planned Wedding Cut Short

Family members disclosed that Sahabi had been preparing to get married next year after the Ramadan fasting season. His death has left a significant void in his family, who described him as a dutiful and kind-hearted individual.

The remains of Sahabi were transported to Sokoto with the support of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede. He was buried in accordance with Islamic rites in a solemn ceremony attended by family, friends, and colleagues.

A family source who spoke with SaharaReporters said, “He was buried in Sokoto this afternoon according to Muslim rites. Salisu was billed to get married after the next fasting season but he died tragically in the line of duty after his team was dispatched to confront alleged internet fraudsters in Awka, without bulletproof vest.”

Speaking with SaharaReporters on Saturday, a top police source had earlier revealed, “The gunman was arrested by the police and EFCC operatives in the ceiling of his neighbour’s room.

“After shooting and killing the EFCC operative he threw out the gun, a short pump action gun owned and licenced by his father into the bush.

“He hid at first in his ceiling and then crawled to his neighbour’s ceiling from where the police arrested and detained him.

“His father went to the police station to state and support his position that he killed in self-defence.

“All the EFCC operatives dispatched for the night operation had no bulletproof vest. They just wore their branded EFCC jackets.

“His killer, Chukwuka Josiah ikechukwu Nnamdi from Ifite, Awka, is currently detained at the SCID and he is likely to face murder charges even though he claimed he shot and killed the EFCC operative in self-defence.”

Police sources further told SaharaReporters that Nnamdi threw the gun out of the window after firing shots that killed the EFCC operative and injured another operative.

“This was the gun he claimed was licensed to his father,” the police source added.

SaharaReporters reported that the officers were on a mission to apprehend a group of suspected cyber criminals when they were attacked on Friday morning.

A contingent of EFCC officials were assigned from the EFCC Enugu Zonal command to apprehend suspected internet fraudsters in Awka, Anambra State.

A source told the platform on Saturday, “They arrived Awka very early to the first home of suspected fraudsters, successfully raided and arrested several persons with exhibits, including credit cards and four luxurious vehicles.

“When the EFCC operatives arrested the first set of suspected “yahoo boys” the police in Awka waylaid them and delayed the operatives, claiming they did not seek permission before coming to their jurisdiction to carry out such operation,” the police source revealed further.

“They then set out to visit another location but reportedly found that they were short-staffed and relocated to a smaller location.

“Upon arriving there, it was a location with several apartments. So they told the gatemen to point them to the place of the person they suspected.

“He refused to open his door, apparently suspecting they might be robbers or kidnappers.

“The person of interest refused to open his door asking who they were to which they responded they were EFCC operatives.”

“The EFCC team proceeded to break into his apartment and the suspect opened fire on the lead person; an EFCC operative known as Salisu.

“He was seriously injured, but still alive with a second operative injured in his left hand. The operatives rushed the operative to a hospital. They arrived at the General Hospital in Awka but there were no doctors. Only two hospital nurses were around who advised them to look for a private hospital,” the top source had narrated further.