LAGOS – Tragedy struck in Lekki, Lagos, on Saturday morning as a young man identified as Endurance Udeke reportedly died after jumping from a four-storey building during a raid conducted by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred around 4:30 a.m. when EFCC officials stormed a residential block suspected to be housing internet fraudsters.
Residents said the operatives arrived in several unmarked vehicles and surrounded the building before attempting to gain entry into various apartments.
In a panic, Udeke, believed to be in his late twenties, reportedly leapt from the fourth floor of the building in an attempt to escape.
He landed heavily on the concrete pavement, sustaining severe head and spinal injuries that led to his death before emergency services could arrive.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) noted that the EFCC operatives continued the raid even after the tragic fall, arresting several suspects and seizing mobile devices, laptops, and vehicles believed to be linked to cybercrime activities.
A resident, who identified himself as Chima, described the incident as “heartbreaking and unnecessary,” blaming the EFCC for what he called “a reckless and traumatizing approach to law enforcement.”
He said, “The officers came like armed invaders. They were breaking doors and shouting. The boy panicked and jumped from the top floor because he was afraid. Even if he was innocent, he wouldn’t have survived that kind of fear.”
Family sources told DDM that Udeke was not involved in any illegal activity and had only moved into the building recently to live with friends.
The EFCC, however, has not issued an official statement on the incident as of press time.
Calls and messages to the Lagos Zonal Command of the anti-graft agency were not immediately returned.
This is not the first time the EFCC’s midnight raids have been linked to fatalities.
In 2023, a similar incident was reported in Oyo State, where a student of the Polytechnic Ibadan died after jumping from a storey building during an EFCC operation.
Human rights groups, including the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), have repeatedly condemned such operations, urging the commission to reform its tactics and prioritize due process.
Meanwhile, Udeke’s body has been deposited at a morgue in Lekki pending further investigation.
Residents have called for an independent probe into the incident, demanding accountability for what they describe as a needless loss of life.