Ondo nightclub owners protest EFCC raids

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission officials. Photo: EFCC

Nightclub owners, entertainers and other stakeholders in the entertainment industry in Ondo State on Thursday protested in Akure against what they described as repeated disruption of their businesses by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The protesters expressed displeasure over recent EFCC operations in the state, particularly reports of shootings during some of the raids.

The protest reportedly caused traffic disruption for several hours, as the protesters blocked roads around the First Bank area and other parts of Akure while chanting solidarity songs.

One of the protesters, who identified himself as Ayo, said the alleged incessant raids on clubs and entertainment centres were discouraging customers from patronising their businesses and threatening their survival.

He said, “We don’t know what we have done to the EFCC. They always attack our clubs and harass our customers.

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“Some of them will say they are looking for ‘Yahoo Yahoo’ boys. If you are truly looking for them, you know how to track and arrest them. Not everybody who goes to clubs is involved in internet fraud.

“They should stop harassing our customers and destroying our businesses.”

Another protester lamented that the raids had created fear among residents around the locations of the clubs, appealing to the EFCC and the state government to intervene before more businesses collapsed.

He said, “These raids are negatively affecting our businesses and the entire entertainment industry in the state. We want the government to save us from this situation.

“The government should adopt measures that will protect both law enforcement interests and legitimate businesses.”

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