The suspect in the incident is identified as Joshua Chukwubueze Ikechukwu, an alleged internet fraudster.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss of one of its officers, Assistant Superintendent Aminu Sahabi Salisu (ASE II), who was fatally attacked while on duty on January 17, 2025.
The suspect in the incident is identified as Joshua Chukwubueze Ikechukwu, an alleged internet fraudster.
The Commission said it “views with great concern the irresponsible, callous, inhuman and outrageous narratives being circulated on social media on the whys and wherefores of the fatal accident”.
“It is heinous to reduce the death of a gallant officer who was carrying out patriotic and official duties to social media razzmatazz,” it added.
The anti-graft said it is also worrisome that some “faceless commentators” are supporting an alleged criminal who “unleashed terror on officers of the EFCC in their line of duty”.
According to the EFCC in a statement issued by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, on Sunday, there is no justification whatsoever to “rationalise a murderous act”.
SaharaReporters reported on Saturday that earlier in the day, the Anambra State Police Command arrested the suspect who attacked EFCC operatives and shot Halisu Sahabi during a raid in Awka, the state capital.
The suspect was identified as a medical doctor, Chukwuka Josiah Ikechukwu Nnamdi, who hails from Ifite in Anambra State.
SaharaReporters gathered from senior police sources on Saturday that Nnamdi was apprehended while hiding in the ceiling of his neighbour's room following the crime.
Halisu was later flown to Sokoto State for burial.
In its statement on Sunday, the EFCC said 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”.
Giving its account of the incident, the agency said, “Salisu, alongside other investigators of the EFCC, were at Dr. J.O. Ukwutinife Close, Ifite, Awka, 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.”
According to the EFCC, the activities of internet fraudsters are “becoming patently hazardous to public safety and security”.
It said intelligence has shown that “these criminals are carrying arms, involved in kidnapping, banditry, ritual killings and other deadly acts”.
It urged the pubic “not to fold its arms or allow itself to be deceived that they are mere ‘Yahoo boys and girls.’”