A suspected cybercrime suspect, Atser Sesugh, has died following a gun battle involving operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Makurdi, Benue State.
According to the Benue State Police Command, Sesugh was one of three suspects arrested by the EFCC on April 28, 2026, over alleged fraud and cybercrime offences. The trio reportedly escaped from EFCC custody on May 4 and had been on the run since then.
Police said EFCC operatives received intelligence on May 23 about the whereabouts of the fugitives at a hideout in the Kanshio area of Makurdi. Upon arrival, the operatives allegedly came under gunfire from a group of armed young men believed to be associated with the suspects, leading to an exchange of fire.
After the confrontation, Sesugh was found critically wounded and was taken to the Police Cottage Hospital in Makurdi, where he was confirmed dead. His body was later deposited at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital mortuary for preservation and autopsy.
EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale said the agency did not deliberately kill the suspect, maintaining that officers acted in self-defence after being fired upon while attempting to rearrest escaped detainees. He stated that the suspects had escaped through the roof of a holding facility and that EFCC operatives were conducting a lawful manhunt when the gunfight occurred.
The Benue State Commissioner of Police has directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The case has generated controversy after relatives of the deceased questioned the EFCC’s account of events, while authorities insist that a full investigation is underway.
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