A Nigerian soldier has openly criticized the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), urging the agency to channel the same energy and resources used in arresting suspected internet fraudsters toward tackling violent criminal activities such as banditry and terrorism across Nigeria.
The soldier argued that EFCC’s operational strength, intelligence gathering, and investigative techniques could be highly useful in combating violent crime and reducing insecurity in the nation’s most troubled regions.
Rising Banditry and Security Concerns
In his remarks, the soldier accused the anti-graft commission of disproportionately focusing on cybercrime suspects instead of deploying similar investigative tactics to locate criminal gangs responsible for killings, kidnappings, and widespread insecurity across the country. He noted that EFCC officials are highly effective in tracking, identifying, and arresting young men accused of internet fraud, and suggested that their skills could be extended to more urgent matters involving armed groups and terrorists.
“Since EFCC officials know how to raid and arrest young men easily, they should come and help us catch bandits and terrorists,” he said, emphasizing that their involvement could significantly strengthen national efforts against violent crimes that threaten lives and livelihoods in rural and urban areas alike.
He further pointed out that criminals involved in banditry and terrorism often flaunt wealth publicly, highlighting that EFCC’s capacity to follow financial trails could be applied as effectively to violent offenders as it is to cybercriminals. “EFCC una sabi burst where yahoo boys dey. Make una come join military and help to catch the bandits too. The bandits too have money,” he stated, insisting that the same investigative commitment be applied to real-life security threats that endanger citizens every day.
Social Media Reactions
The soldier’s remarks quickly generated a wave of reactions online, with many social media users supporting the call for broader involvement in combating insecurity. The debate emphasized that EFCC’s intelligence capabilities should not be limited to cybercrime cases but extended to high-impact violent crime where lives are at stake.
@PitchTalkkk commented: “They will tell you it’s not their job.“
@Ashiru_AO added: “It’s not in the job description of EFCC to catch bandits and terrorists. The Nigerian Army is saddled with that responsibility. I believe they are capable.“
@Habatovation1 remarked: “EFCC right now… once they catch yahoo boys it’s always based on intelligence. But bandits displaying money on social media, doing a lot of things, they don’t have tools to locate and arrest them.“
@Shuluemp added: “He didn’t lie. If they channel that same energy to real criminals, the country go better.”
The discussion highlights ongoing public concern about the state of insecurity in Nigeria, as well as the high expectations of citizens for stronger collaboration among national security institutions, including EFCC, the military, and other law enforcement agencies, to combat both financial crimes and violent criminal activity effectively.
Watch the video below capturing the soldier’s message to the EFCC…
“Since EF CC officials know how to raid and arrest young men easily, they should come and help us catch bånd!ts and terrør!sts.” 👀
— Nigerian soldier sends a message to the EF CC pic.twitter.com/RwkKTpUXyu
— Oyindamola🙄 (@dammiedammie35) November 21, 2025