Anti-graft agency – Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday said it has uncovered a plot to instigate mass action against its ongoing war against cybercrimes.
It cautioned the unnamed shadowy group believed to be the brain behind the planned protest to retrace its steps, warning that it will not tolerate any breakdown of law and order against its operation.
The agency alleged that the group has been campaigning in the social media and recruiting young Nigerians to take up arms against it.
According to the agency, it was already working with sister security agencies to deal with possible threats to peace and security in the land.
It, however, asked parents, guardians and heads of tertiary institutions to prevail on their wards not to join the protest.
The EFCC, which gave the warning in a statement in Abuja by its Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Dele Oyewale, said although it is “not averse to protests by citizens, it won’t allow corrupt elements under investigation or prosecution to orchestrate national uprising.”
The statement reads: “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) wishes to alert the general public on the plan by a shadowy group to instigate a ‘protest’ against the commission.
“In the last couple of days, the group has been actively campaigning in the social media, recruiting impressionable young Nigerians, including students to take up ‘arms’ against the EFCC.
“This insidious campaign is being promoted as resistance to the operational activities of the commission especially in respect of the enforcement of the laws dealing with cybercrimes.”
The EFCC vowed to resist any attempt to cause a breakdown of law and order in any of its office locations across the country.
The statement added: “The commission, while not averse to protests by citizens, is alarmed by emerging evidence that suggest a grand design by corrupt elements under investigation or prosecution by the commission to exploit the so-called protest to orchestrate a national uprising that may threaten the peace and security of our dear nation.
“As a responsible law enforcement organisation, the commission will not tolerate any breakdown of law and order anywhere in the country especially around its office locations across Nigeria.
“EFCC, working in concert with sister security agencies, is therefore taking necessary measures to deal with possible threats to the peace and security of Nigeria.
“The commission, however, appeals to parents, guardians and heads of tertiary institutions to take responsibility in ensuring that their wards are not recruited to be used as cannon fodder in a proxy war against the commission by vested corrupt interests.
“The war being waged by the commission against corruption and cybercrime is to protect the future of the youth of this country. That future is imperiled if Nigeria degenerates further in global reckoning as a den of fraudsters,” the statement said.
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