Date Published: 03/29/10

Attack on EFCC Operatives, Time to Act is Now

It was with shock and pains that I read recently in your esteemed newspapers that  some operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Nigeria’s foremost anti-graft agency  who were returning from a court  assignment in Owerri, Imo State were ambushed and attacked by assailants, leaving one of the operatives dead and several others injured.  

There is no doubt that this barbaric act brings a frightening dimension to the fight against corruption.  Corruption remains Nigeria ’s biggest problem and largely responsible for the country’s underdevelopment. 

Little wonder that a country which prides itself as the 6 th largest producer and exporter of crude oil, could be lacking in infrastructural development and other basic amenities, which are virtually non existence due to corruption.

My worry now is that if operatives of  EFCC who were going on about their lawful duties have suddenly become subject of attack by looters of our treasury and fraudsters who should be in jail, then Nigeria is indeed in big trouble. I enjoined all well meaning Nigerians and human rights organizations to condemn this barbaric act.

However, I find it curious that the Nigerian police as usual and without any in-depth investigation has quickly dismissed this attack on operatives of EFCC as an armed robbery attack. I urged the Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to compel the Inspector General of Police to set up a team to investigate this and bring the culprit to book as that would serve as a deterrent to looters of our commonwealth who may also have been contemplating such barbaric act.

My worry also is that if the perpetrators of this heinous crime are not brought to book, it is capable of frustrating the good work of Mrs Farida Waziri, Chairman of EFCC and his team of dedicated officials.

In the last two years, Waziri and his team have secured over 70 convictions and recovered over $3 billions from some of these looters. This good work must not be frustrated or hampered. Nigerians, both at home and in the Diaspora, owe Madam Farida Waziri, officers and men of the Commission God’s protection from evil men in their quest to rid the nation of corrupt elements.

John Agada

Public Affairs Analyst,

Abuja