The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday, issued a public alert over what it described as a growing wave of impersonation and fake enforcement activities by criminal gangs posing as its officers across major cities in Nigeria.
According to its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the commission warned that the activities of these impostors were damaging its reputation and exposing unsuspecting citizens to harassment, extortion, and theft.
According to the EFCC, intelligence reports indicated that some of the fraudsters operate around popular eateries and recreational spots, where they target young people, falsely accuse them of internet fraud, and confiscate their valuables.
“These individuals dress in fake EFCC uniforms and sometimes move victims to locations made to resemble EFCC offices,” the statement said.
The commission also revealed the existence of another group of criminals targeting motorists by stopping them on the road under the guise of enforcement, often using threats and weapons to extort money based on fabricated allegations.
In addition, the EFCC raised concerns about online impersonators and content creators staging fake “sting operations,” including dramatised raids involving forced entry and property damage, which it described as inconsistent with its standard procedures.
The agency cautioned that such misleading portrayals could deceive the public and wrongly implicate the commission in unlawful actions.
Oyewale urged Nigerians to exercise caution and verify claims involving EFCC operations, stressing that it operates under clearly defined standard procedures and has established channels for reporting misconduct.
“The public should be circumspect in evaluating claims intended to drag the commission’s image into disrepute,” Oyewale added.
He, however, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to combating economic and financial crimes, while calling on citizens not to allow the actions of impersonators to undermine confidence in its work.
