Youths protest EFCC raids in Delta, ask Governor for help

Over 100 youths from the Let’s Save Asaba Movement Initiative protested peacefully on Friday at the Delta State Government House in Asaba. They were concerned about alleged midnight raids, forced entries into homes, arrests, and intimidation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The protesters, under the motto “See Something, Say Something,” handed over a petition to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori. They urged him to act on their worries about how some EFCC operations were being carried out in the state.

Nwokoro Julius, a security aide to the governor, accepted the petition on behalf of the state government. He promised to send it to the right authorities.

The protesters said they support the EFCC’s fight against financial crimes but stressed that operations should follow the law and respect people's rights. They want the EFCC to operate professionally.

Marvin Mordi, a co-convener of the movement, spoke to journalists at the Government House. He said they were there to bring the government's attention to what they see as wrongful treatment of youths.

Mordi explained that they prefer to seek help from the government rather than cause trouble. He said it is not a crime to be successful in Nigeria.

“We don’t want to take the protest to the streets. What we are here for is simple. We are here to tell the government that our rights as citizens of Nigeria are not a crime. It is not a crime to be doing well,” Mordi said.

He claimed that EFCC officials entered homes and arrested youths without proper checks.

“It is not a crime for anybody to come from nowhere, come to our houses and pick up our youths,” he said.

Mordi added that some youths were taken during the raids the previous night and some detainees were being asked for millions of naira.

“Just last night, some youths were taken away. They are there, and there are allegations that millions of naira are being demanded from some persons,” he said.

He called on the state government to step in before the situation worsens.

“We don’t want to take the protest to the streets. The government should send a message to them. They should leave our people alone,” he said.

Mordi emphasized that they do not oppose lawful arrests when there is real evidence of crime.

“If anyone commits a crime, they should go after the person. Come and pick up the person who committed the crime, not come and arrest people randomly,” he said.

He assured that the protesters would keep defending what they see as the rights of residents.

“We are peaceful and law-abiding. We are here to make our statement to the government,” Mordi said.

Emmanuel Ogbolu, who claims to be a victim, also spoke. He asked Governor Oborevwori to ensure that the EFCC treats young people more professionally.

Ogbolu warned that the way the EFCC operates could cause problems among youths and lead to bigger security issues.

“We have come here to appeal peacefully to the governor that the EFCC should be professional in its dealings with the youths.”

He said the current methods could lead to more unrest among young people.

“Why I am calling on the governor in this matter is that the EFCC is trying to promote youth restiveness, and I know the governor will not like it. If it occurs, we are going to be facing a lot of security challenges.”

Ogbolu questioned why operatives do not properly check or identify people before entering homes.

“What happened to proper profiling? What happened to being professional in their dealings?”

He also claimed that an individual with mental health issues was taken during one raid, and a demand for N10 million was made afterward.

“This is one example to let you know that they are not profiling the people they are coming to pick. This is illegal,” he alleged.

The claims from Mordi and Ogbolu could not be verified, and the EFCC had not responded to these allegations by the time this report was filed.

In their petition, the movement asked the Delta State Government to look into claims of illegal raids, midnight operations, forced entries, intimidation, and abuse of residents.

They also asked the government to engage with relevant Federal Government bodies. They want to ensure that EFCC operations in Delta follow the Constitution and the law.

The protesters demanded that residents’ rights, dignity, privacy, and safety be protected during law enforcement actions.

They requested a way for affected residents to safely report evidence and complaints about alleged misconduct.

The group made it clear that their protest was peaceful and constitutional. They want accountability, not confrontation.

The movement supports the EFCC's goals but insists that the agency must operate legally.

The petition was signed by Comrade Ajemba Chibueze Stanley, Nkemakolam Desmond, the convener, Comrade Marvin Mordi, the co-convener, and Comrade Harrison Gwamnishu, Director, BBI.

They called for the law to be followed, human rights to be respected, and the rule of law to be maintained.

The EFCC had not responded to the allegations by the time this report was written.