The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has advised security agencies in the country to arrest those who attacked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission office in Abuja on Wednesday.
“We urge the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the Department of State Security to rise to the occasion, accept the challenge thrown by the attackers and bring them to book within a reasonable time.
“The personal safety of EFCC operatives must be guaranteed and this is the responsibility of our security agencies,” the group said in a statement issued in Ibadan on Thursday by its President, Prof. Ishaq Akintola.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that unknown gunmen on Wednesday shot into the premises of the headquarters of the EFCC located at Wuse Zone 7, Abuja at around 5 am.
MURIC described the attack as cowardly, devilish and “an open challenge to the Nigerian security agencies.”
It said,“The attack shows that looters of the Nigerian treasury have resorted to armed confrontation to achieve their diabolical objective.
“Though disheartening, the invasion of EFCC headquarters has opened another phase in the war against corruption.
“It has revealed very clearly that looters will stop at nothing to frustrate the ongoing anti-graft war. They are ready to shed blood.”
MURIC also said that the EFCC headquarters and other offices must be well fortified from now on with quick-response squads on permanent standby.
“We charge Nigerians to renew their commitment to the war against corruption.
“This is a war between light and darkness, a struggle between truth and falsehood, a tussle between good and evil.
“There must be no retreat, no surrender. We must not allow agents of darkness to overwhelm EFCC. It is about our future and the destiny of generations yet unborn,’’ the group added.
MURIC commended the resilience, steadfastness and outstanding courage of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
“We appreciate their refusal to succumb to undue pressure from the NASS, their iron-cast political will to prosecute the war against corruption, their personal sacrifices and their commitment to prudence. (NAN)