EFCC breaks silence: We didn’t harass anyone during Port Harcourt Internet fraud bust

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has dismissed as “strange and unwarranted” a viral video alleging harassment of residents during its sting operation at Majesty Estate, NTA Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, insisting that its operatives acted professionally throughout the operation.

In a statement released on Saturday, the anti-graft agency said the video, which shows a broken door and claimed that EFCC officials harassed innocent residents, did not reflect the true nature of the events that unfolded during its Friday, August 1, 2025 raid.

“The Commission finds reports of a viral video of a broken door and harassment of residents in the Estate strange and unwarranted,” EFCC stated.

“Many residents profusely appreciated and commended the Commission for coming to their aid in making some arrests of suspected internet fraudsters.”

According to the Commission, the operation followed a distress call by residents of the estate, who raised alarm over the activities of suspected internet fraudsters living among them.

Responding to claims of misconduct, EFCC explained that operatives had intelligence pointing to a particular apartment within the estate.

Upon arrival, the residents of the said apartment reportedly refused to open the door even after operatives introduced themselves and stated their mission.

“For some inexplicable reasons, the residents refused to open their doors even when operatives of the Commission properly introduced themselves and announced their mission,” the statement noted.

“On this score, one of the doors of the apartment was prized open and search operations were carried out,” it added.

The agency maintained that no arrests or recoveries were made from the apartment in question and emphasised that its officers conducted themselves with decorum.

“No unprofessional conduct happened in the course of the operations,” EFCC said.

The Commission stressed its commitment to professionalism and warned that it would not tolerate misconduct from its operatives.

“The Commission remains resolute in upholding sound professional conduct in its operations and will not hesitate to take disciplinary measures against any of its operatives found to be overzealous in the discharge of his duties,” it said.

During the sting operation, a total of 37 suspected internet fraudsters were arrested across the estate.