MURIC, CISLAC condemn attack on EFCC

The Civil Society Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) have condemned Wednesday’s gunmen attack on a Abuja office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). In separate statements yesterday MURIC President Professor Ishaq Akintola and CISLAC Executive Director Auwal Musa Rafsanjani urged the government to apprehend and prosecute the perpetrators of […]

The Civil Society Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) have condemned Wednesday’s gunmen attack on a Abuja office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

In separate statements yesterday MURIC President Professor Ishaq Akintola and CISLAC Executive Director Auwal Musa Rafsanjani urged the government to apprehend and prosecute the perpetrators of the attack.

“The CISLAC, national Contact for Transparency International (TI), condemns the unwarranted but suppressed attack by an unknown armed group on the EFCC’s facilities on the 16th of August with subsequent death threats against the commission’s operatives.

“Recalling that only in June 2017, an operative in the Fraud Section of the Commission’s Zonal Office in Port Harcourt, Wilson Uwujaren was also attacked by yet to be identified gunmen, CISLAC notes with grave concern and utmost dismay the emerging trend where officials of the commission are singled out as targets by armed individuals and/or groups in the course of their duty and service to the nation, signaling the obstinate nature of the deep-seated menace of corruption fighting back,” Rafsanjani said.

He said the attack on the commission was nothing but an endorsement of its commendable efforts in waging war against corruption which must be supported, upheld and sustained by all Nigerians for socio-economic development and prosperity of the country.

He therefore urged the EFCC not to succumb to threat or intimidation by any person or group, but instead strengthen the fight against corruption through enhanced strategies and support for whistle-blowing activities.

On his part Akintola said the attack is not only cowardly but also devilish as it is an open challenge to the Nigerian security agencies.

“Desperate attempts have been made to get the EFCC boss out of the anti-graft body. These attempts included subterfuge, blackmail and harassment but they all failed to yield the required result. Yesterday’s attack shows that looters of the Nigerian treasury are tired of using a willing National Assembly (NASS) to achieve its diabolical objective. This explains their resort to armed confrontation.

“Though disheartening, the invasion of EFCC headquarters has opened another phase in the war against corruption. It has revealed very clearly that looters will stop at nothing to frustrate the ongoing anti-graft war. They are ready to shed blood,” he said.

He therefore urged Nigerians to renew their commitment to the anti-corruption war in the interest of the country, and also the future and the destiny of generations yet unborn.