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Makurdi, Benue State – By Prime Brief Media

Tragedy struck the Gberindyer settlement in Makurdi, Benue State, following reports of the death of a 17-year-old boy, identified only as Sesugh, who was allegedly shot and killed by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The incident, which occurred over the weekend, has triggered outrage in the community and placed the conduct of the anti-graft agency under intense public scrutiny, with the family demanding answers and access to the body of their son.

According to accounts circulating from local sources and a report filed by Human Rights Activist Ukan Kurugh, the events leading to the teenager's death began with an EFCC raid in his neighbourhood, during which several residents, including Sesugh and a friend, were arrested and detained at the Commission's zonal facility in Makurdi. The two young men were said to have escaped from the custody of the anti-graft agency under circumstances that remain unclear.

It was further alleged that while the two were in hiding following their escape, EFCC operatives traced their location to the Gberindyer area of the town. Eyewitness accounts gathered from the community claim that upon sighting the operatives, the young man attempted to flee and was allegedly shot in the leg before falling. Reports further allege that he was subsequently shot in the chest while on the ground.

Community members who gathered at the scene insisted that the operatives leave the boy's body behind if they intended to leave the area, but sources claim the operatives nevertheless took his body away. As of the time of this report, the family of the deceased has reportedly not been granted access to see their son. However, information made available to Prime Brief Media indicates that the body of the teenager was taken to the Police State Command clinic in Makurdi.

The general public now awaits an official statement and clarification from the EFCC Zonal Command in Makurdi regarding the incident. The Commission has yet to comment publicly on the circumstances surrounding the alleged shooting, the escape of the detainees from its custody, or the whereabouts of the second young man reportedly on the run with Sesugh.

The incident has drawn sharp reactions from civil society groups, who are calling for an independent investigation into the matter. The reported shooting of a fleeing suspect, particularly a minor, raises serious legal and human rights questions under Nigerian and international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which Nigeria is a signatory. The use of lethal force against a fleeing suspect is generally justified under Nigerian law only if the suspect poses an immediate threat to life, a standard that the EFCC has yet to address in relation to this specific case.

Prime Brief Media is working to independently verify the accounts and will provide updates as more information becomes available.

Prime Brief Media will continue to track security and rescue efforts across the state as this story develops.

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