EFCC operative investigating corrupt officials shot

One of the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Austin Okwor, has been shot.

Okwor, who was shot on June 24, 2017, is presently battling to survive in an undisclosed hospital in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Before the attack, Okwor had been receiving threat messages.

Six months earlier, a team of EFCC prosecutors returning to Enugu after a court appearance in Owerri, Imo State was attacked by gunmen who opened fire on them. Sergeant Eze Edoga the police escort was cut down while a senior counsel with the Commission, Joseph Uzor was critically wounded but survived.

According to the EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, Okwor was one of the Commission’s top investigators, saddled with the responsibility of investigating corrupt judicial officials.

Okwor is said to be attached to Property Fraud Section of the EFCC Zonal office in Port Harcourt.

Uwujaren said: “Okwor had closed late for the day and as he left office, he was suddenly accosted by a gang of daredevil hoodlums who opened fire on him. Luckily for him, he was able to shake off his assailants but not without sustaining some bullet wounds as they kept firing at him. He was rushed to a private hospital in Port Harcourt where he is receiving treatment.”

Uwujaren, who described the injured operative as one of the best investigator, said that the man escaped death by the whiskers.

According to Ishaq Salihu, Head of the Zonal office, the incident has already been reported to the Police in Port Harcourt.

“Okwor is one of the operatives investigating some sensitive cases including that pertaining to corrupt judicial officials. Before the incident, the officer had been receiving threat messages. One of such messages which he received sometime in May 2017 was reported to the Police. This incident underlines the hazards which operatives of the Commission are daily exposed to in the discharge of their duties.”

Uwujaren disclosed that in 2010, precisely September 14, the head of the Commission’s Forensic Unit, Abdullahi Muazu was shot and killed by unknown gunmen in Kaduna.