Midnight Mayhem at Obasanjo Library: EFCC Raid Sparks Outrage and N2.5 Billion Demand
According to the EFCC, operatives from the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 arrested 93 individuals suspected of internet-based crimes and seized 18 vehicles and multiple mobile devices. However, OOPL’s management described the raid as a “Gestapo-like invasion,” claiming that over 50 armed men, led by someone identified only as “Olapade,” stormed the premises, fired shots, threatened attendees, and caused panic. They insisted that no arrest warrant was presented, and that police officers stationed at the library—and additional personnel from Kemta Police Station—had no prior knowledge of any EFCC operation.
Video clips from the scene show stunned party-goers scrambling for safety as gunshots rang out. The OOPL’s Managing Director, Vitalis Ortese, condemned the incident, demanding a formal explanation and apology from both the EFCC and the Nigeria Police Force. He also asked for N2.5 billion in compensation, including N1 billion for those arrested and whose vehicles were seized, to cover reputational, physical, and business damages. A seven-day ultimatum was issued, warning that legal action would follow if the demands were not met.
Ortese cited physical evidence such as a beret and bullet shell found on site as proof of reckless use of force. The incident has sparked debates over due process, the proportionality of force used, and the lack of coordination between agencies. It has also raised concerns about the long-term damage to the image and operations of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, a major cultural and historical institution.
This confrontation between a prominent national heritage site and a federal anti-graft agency has now become a test case for the boundaries of law enforcement in Nigeria, with the coming days expected to reveal whether dialogue or litigation will determine the outcome.
