A joint outcry has erupted following a sting operation by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the Green Legacy Hotel, located within the premises of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
According to a statement released in Abuja on Sunday by EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, 93 suspected internet fraudsters, popularly referred to as “Yahoo boys,” were apprehended during the operation on Saturday. Oyewale said the arrests were made following credible intelligence linking the suspects to alleged cybercrime activities.
The EFCC disclosed that 18 vehicles and several mobile devices were seized during the raid. The suspects, the agency added, will face prosecution once investigations are concluded.
However, the management of the OOPL has strongly condemned the raid, describing it as a “violent invasion” of its premises. In a separate statement issued on Sunday, the library accused the operatives of storming the complex at around 2 a.m. with over 50 armed men, allegedly firing gunshots, threatening to kill people, and causing widespread panic among guests and residents.
The OOPL claimed the operation, reportedly led by a man identified only as “Olapade,” targeted a private event at the library’s amusement facility. According to the management, the operatives claimed to be acting on an intelligence tip and insisted that the police had been informed.
The library, however, maintained that both police officers stationed at its gates and additional personnel from Kemta Police Station, who had been invited by the event organisers, denied prior knowledge of the EFCC operation. The statement also alleged that the operatives presented no search or arrest warrant before entering the premises.
OOPL said the incident caused injuries to several attendees as they attempted to flee the scene in panic. The management described the incident as a “clear case of invasion of private property” and an infringement on the rights of both the establishment and its guests.
“This morning, at about 2 a.m., the OOPL premises were invaded by a Gestapo-like gang of over 50 armed men, shooting guns, threatening to kill people, and purporting to be from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,” the statement read. “The invasion caused serious panic and chaos, leading to injuries among participants trying to escape, and creating terror among residents.”
The management stressed that the event targeted by the operatives was a publicly advertised private gathering. It announced that it had begun its own investigation and would escalate the matter to the EFCC, the police, and the Department of State Services (DSS).
OOPL has demanded a formal explanation and an apology from the EFCC for what it termed “impudent actions” and “gangster-like chaos.” It warned that failure to receive a satisfactory response could prompt legal action and demands for sanctions against those involved.
