Armed operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) reportedly left several people injured after opening fire to disperse a youth conference and arrested guests during an overnight raid of a hotel in Enugu.
Agents believed to be from the anti-graft department’s field office in Enugu arrived at Castle Majestic in Ogui, about 10 kilometers southwest of the city center, just before midnight, causing serious disruption and commotion, a witness said.
EFCC raided the hotel with 5 buses and almost everybody was arrested, including those watching football at the pool side.
The operation appeared to have first been posted on Twitter between 2:00 am and 3:00 am Friday by a user with the name Ike Oraifite.
The handle said operatives broke into rooms without apparent warrants and arrested several guests before disrupting a youth gathering that was underway at the hotel’s conference room.
At least 40 guests were feared driven away by operatives, who reportedly arrived in five unregistered vehicles, including two Toyota Hilux buses.
It was not immediately clear whether or not the agency had prepared cases against the over 40 suspects arrested prior to the raid.
The hotel proprietor was reportedly beaten by the agents who went on to forcibly collect master access to all rooms in the hotel, subsequently breaking in on sleeping guests.
Some people were injured as they scampered for safety after officers fired into the air and used teargas upon arrival. None of the injuries came from gunshots, witnesses said.
A front desk officer at the hotel confirmed the presence of anti-graft operatives overnight but said he could not immediately comment as the management was holding a meeting to discuss the incident.
Those who were at the hotel have reportedly called for a march to the agency’s office in Enugu.
The raid came as EFCC was coming under fire from Nigerians who feared its tactics was growing abusive and violent. Over the past two months, agents have stormed hotels in Lagos, breaking into rooms to arrest guests without presenting warrants of showing respect for people’s fundamental rights to privacy and dignity.
Watch the videos of the Enugu raid below:
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