A Benue mother has accused operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of killing her teenage son weeks after he was allegedly arrested and released on bail.
A fresh controversy has emerged around the activities of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission after a grieving mother, Ms Jennifer Atsar, accused operatives of the agency of killing her 16-year-old son, Sesugh Atsar, in Makurdi, Benue State.
Jennifer Atsar, who spoke publicly about the incident, said her son was allegedly shot by EFCC operatives on May 23, 2026, despite having earlier been released after his arrest. According to her account, the teenager had informed her that EFCC officials detained him, withheld his phone, and demanded ₦100,000 before it could be returned.
The mother said Sesugh, who was learning furniture-making while also attending school in Makurdi, had gone out with a friend on the day of the incident before news reached her that he had been shot.
She alleged that operatives of the anti-graft agency, dressed in mufti, invited her son’s friend to a hotel around the community where the officials were reportedly staying. According to her narration, the teenager allegedly attempted to flee after seeing one of the operatives draw a gun, before he was chased and shot.
The development has placed renewed attention on the continuing debate around operational conduct by security and anti-corruption agencies, particularly in cases involving young Nigerians accused of internet-related offences.
Jennifer Atsar also rejected allegations reportedly made against her son by EFCC officials. She said claims linking the teenager to fraud, cultism, drug activities, and impersonation were fabricated to justify the shooting.
According to her, Sesugh was a junior secondary school student who also took up menial jobs to support the family financially. She further stated that she had not been allowed to see his corpse since the incident and demanded that the agency release the body for burial.
The EFCC, however, gave a different account of the incident.
Speaking on behalf of the commission, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale said the teenager was among three suspects earlier arrested over alleged internet fraud before escaping from custody through the roof of a toilet facility.
Oyewale stated that operatives later traced the suspects to an area in Makurdi following intelligence reports. He claimed the suspects opened fire on EFCC officials during the operation, leading to a gun battle in which one of the suspects was shot.
The commission denied allegations that the teenager was on bail at the time of the incident, insisting that he had escaped from lawful custody.
As conflicting accounts continue to emerge, the case now adds another layer to ongoing concerns surrounding law enforcement operations, accountability, and the treatment of suspects during anti-crime investigations in Nigeria.