Officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seized a camera belonging to a news crew from a broadcast media outlet, News Central TV, shortly after firing tear gas at protesters in Abuja on January 16, 2025.
The protest took place at the EFCC headquarters in Jabi, where supporters and critics of former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, had gathered. Mallam El-Rufai had been invited by the anti-graft agency to come and respond to corruption allegations. However, as his convoy arrived at the Commission’s office around mid-morning, he was granted entry into the building, but several of his supporters were prevented from following him inside. They remained at the junction leading to the EFCC premises, chanting and protesting.
Tension escalated shortly afterwards when EFCC officials began firing tear gas to disperse the crowd. Amid the chaos, journalists covering the event scrambled for safety while trying to continue documenting developments.
According to an account by an International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) journalist who recorded the incident, the confrontation intensified around 11:15 a.m. After tear gas was deployed, members of the News Central team moved toward Naza Pharmacy and Store, close to where protesters had assembled. While there, they appeared to continue filming.
Moments later, some EFCC officers approached the media crew, manhandled the cameraman, and forcibly took his camera. The officer who seized the equipment reportedly walked away in the direction of the EFCC office with it.
The camera was eventually returned about 30 minutes later, although it remained unclear how the journalists were able to secure its release.
