A 17-year-old boy identified as Sesugh Atsar has died following an encounter involving operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Makurdi, Benue State, with conflicting accounts emerging over the circumstances of his death.
SummitPost had earlier reported in May that the teenager was allegedly shot during an EFCC operation in Makurdi.
The incident, which occurred in the Kanshio axis of Makurdi, has brought renewed public debate after the EFCC issued a statement clarifying its position on the matter.
According to local sources, the teenager was among individuals previously linked to a raid conducted by EFCC operatives in the area, during which several arrests were reportedly made.
Residents claimed that Sesugh and another suspect had earlier escaped from EFCC custody before operatives traced them to Gberindyer, a settlement in Makurdi.
Eyewitnesses alleged that when operatives arrived at the location, the teenager attempted to flee and was shot in the leg, and later in the chest. Some residents further claimed that the body was taken away from the scene despite protests by community members.
The mother of the deceased, Ms Jennifer Atsar, however, alleged that her son, a JSS 3 student, was previously arrested by EFCC operatives and later released on bail, but had his phone seized and was asked to pay ₦100,000 before it would be returned. She claimed that after failing to meet the demand, he was later traced and shot during a subsequent encounter in Makurdi.
Commenting on the matter, Marshal Abubakar, a legal practitioner has called for an independent investigation into the incident, alleging that the EFCC imposes onerous bail conditions and sometimes abuses court processes. He insisted that the circumstances surrounding the teenager’s death raise serious concerns that require urgent and impartial scrutiny.
In a statement titled “Setting the Records Straight on Citizen Asar Michael Sesugh’s Death,” the EFCC said the deceased was not in its custody at the time of the incident.
The Commission explained that 26 suspected cyber fraudsters were arrested on April 28, 2026, and remanded following a court order. It stated that on May 4, three suspects allegedly escaped from its holding facility after breaking through a toilet roof during a brief movement to use the lavatory.
According to the EFCC, intelligence later indicated that one of the escaped suspects, identified as Asar Michael Sesugh, was hiding in the Kansho axis of Makurdi. Operatives were deployed to the location, where the agency claimed its team came under fire from the suspects and alleged cult members.
The EFCC stated that its operatives responded in self-defence, after which the suspects fled. It added that Sesugh was later found lying in a pool of blood by the roadside and taken to the Police Cottage Hospital, where he was confirmed dead.
The Commission maintained that the deceased “did not die in custody and was not on bail at any time,” adding that the matter had been reported to the Benue State Police Command for investigation.
The Benue State Police Command is expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death, including the conflicting claims from both residents and the EFCC. Preliminary findings, according to the Commission, have already been shared with the public as part of ongoing inquiries.
The incident has continued to generate reactions across Makurdi and beyond, with residents calling for transparency and an independent clarification of what led to the teenager’s death.
As of press time, the circumstances remain disputed as investigations continue.