Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have reportedly raided Conference Hotel, Abeokuta, Ogun state capital, owned by Otunba Gbenga Daniel, former governor of the state.
Armed EFCC operatives, in search of internet fraudsters (Yahoo boys) allegedly stormed the hotel, which is few kilometers away from the governor’s office secretariat, on Saturday evening.
Sources said the operatives shot sporadically into the air, causing panic among other lodgers.
Our correspondent gathered that during the operation, a number of suspected internet fraudsters were arrested and taken away.
It was further gathered that the operatives confiscated mobile phones, laptops and exotic cars reportedly belonging to the suspected fraudsters.
Our correspondent gathered that, the operatives were from Lagos office of the agency.
An eyewitness told our correspondent that the officials harassed and molested some of the guests who could not properly identify themselves.
“An an award event was going on in one of the halls in the hotel when suddenly, the officials in a commando style stormed the hotel, shooting sporadically.”
“They forced their way into the hall and locked everyone inside. They started harassing and molesting those that could not properly identify themselves. They collected mobile phones of some guest while cars belonging to some guests were also taken away.”
In September, officials of the anti-graft agency had invaded three hotels in Abeokuta.
When contacted, the Public Relations Officers of both Ibadan and Lagos offices of the EFCC denied knowledge if the alleged invasion.
His Ibadan Zonal office counterpart, Tokunbo Odebiyi, simply said “I have no information about the operation. I’m not aware of invasion of any hotel in Abeokuta.”
But, the media officer to the former governor, Steve Oliyide, confirmed the incident.
He said, “Around 2:00am on Sunday 28th November 2021, some unknown gunmen believed to be acting at the behest of one of the Anti-graft agencies stormed the premises of the hotel facility in Abeokuta in search of an unknown yahoo boy.
“Unnecessary shots were fired and our innocent guests were scared. Thankfully, our various security agencies were able to restore law and order and no life was lost.”