The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has responded to criticisms raised over allegations by former Big Brother Naija reality TV star, Dorathy Bachor, that her house was broken into by its operatives.
She took to her Instagram story on Monday morning to narrate the incident and lament how unsafe it is to be a Nigerian.
She wrote, “I feel like my head is about to explode.
“At 4:35 I heard a loud bang and voices. I rushed out to see five armed EFCC men in my living room and one of them saying ‘Oh na that Big brother girl be this’.
“In my confused state I was trying to understand why they broke down my door. Then one of them said they were looking for someone who ran into the estate and I should lock my door and stay indoors and not say a word.
“I’m shaking at this point and so confused because at what point is this Okay.
“What is the need of being a citizen of this country when I can’t feel safe in my own house?”
Bachor’s post sparked criticism against the EFCC as other celebrities have recently made the same allegations.
Reacting to the development, EFCC, in a statement on Facebook, said her apartment happened to be one of the flats in a building in Lekki, Lagos where its operatives arrested nine suspected fraudsters.
The statement was titled, “EFCC Explains Presence Of Operatives At Dorathy Bachor’s House.’
It read, “The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has been drawn to a post on Instagram by one Dorothy Bachor, alleging that operatives of the Commission broke into her home in the early hours of today, 23rd August 2021
“The Commission can confirm that operatives from the Lagos Command of the Commission, acting on verified intelligence, executed a Search Warrant at a block of flats located in the Lekki area of Lagos on Monday, 23rd August 2021 during which nine internet fraud suspects were arrested.
“Ms. Bachor’s apartment happened to be one of the flats in the building. EFCC operatives had knocked on her entrance door, identified themselves as being from the Commission on a mission to execute a Search Warrant. But they were refused entry, for several minutes by Bachor’s sister. The operatives were left with no choice than to force their way in, lest suspects escape or destroy vital evidence.
“It is important to state that law-abiding citizens have no reason to refuse the execution of a validly obtained Search Warrant. And, contrary to the information making the rounds in the social media, Ms. Bachor was not present during the operation and the anti- EFCC stories about her coming out half-naked among other fantastical details appear to have been invented to fit the pattern she and other internet-fueled stars so desperately want to push about the EFCC.
“It is important to reiterate that nine alleged internet fraud suspects were apprehended in the block of flats housing Ms. Bachor’s apartment.”
