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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has sounded a nationwide alert over a surge in criminal gangs impersonating its officers to extort unsuspecting Nigerians.
In a statement issued by its spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, the Commission revealed that intelligence reports point to coordinated efforts by fraudsters to tarnish its image through deception and intimidation.
According to the EFCC, some of the impostors now lurk around eateries and nightlife spots in major cities, targeting young people as they exit. The suspects allegedly accuse victims of internet fraud, harass them, and seize valuables under false pretences.
The Commission disclosed that the fake operatives often wear counterfeit EFCC uniforms and transport victims to locations designed to mimic official offices, creating an illusion of legitimacy.
In another disturbing trend, armed gangs reportedly stop motorists, accuse them of number plate-related offences, and force them to part with money. Meanwhile, online impersonators and content creators have also joined the scheme, staging fake EFCC “raids” with dramatized scenes of forced entry to mislead the public.
Warning Nigerians to remain vigilant, the EFCC stressed that its operations follow strict procedures and urged citizens not to fall prey to individuals claiming to act on its behalf without proper identification and due process.
The anti-graft agency reaffirmed its commitment to combating economic and financial crimes, cautioning that the actions of impostors should not erode public trust in its mandate.
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