Says Suspect Escaped from Custody
- Safiu Kehinde
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has made clarifications of the alleged death of a suspected fraudster in its custody in Benue State.
As against reports circulating online, the EFCC clarified that the deceased suspect identified as Michael Sesugh never died in its Makurdi Zonal Directorate’s custody.
The commission, in a statement issued on its X handle on Saturday, explained how Sesusgh had escaped from the custody alongside two other suspected cyber fraudsters arrested by its officers.
According to the statement, the deceased was among the 26 suspects arrested on the 28th of April.
He however made his getaway from detention alongside two others.
“Operatives of the Directorate arrested 26 suspected cyber fraudsters on April 28, 2026.
“They were profiled and kept in custody for further investigations after obtaining a Remand Order at a Magistrate Court.
“Shortly after their arrest, specifically on May 4, 2026, three of the suspects sought permission to use the lavatory at the Directorate’s Holding Facility and were permitted.
“They cashed in on the opportunity, broke the toilet’s roof and escaped from detention. Several efforts were made to re- arrest them to no avail.” The EFCC wrote.
The commission recounted how its officials had in reaction to intelligence report found Sesugh at his hideout in Kansho axis of Makurdi.
He was allegedly seen among some other suspected cult members who opened fire at the EFCC officials.
While he had earlier escaped in the course of the fire exchange, Sesugh was reportedly found moments after in the pool of his own blood, indicating that he sustained gunshot injury during the fire exchange.
“However, fresh intelligence came on Thursday, May 21, 2026 that one of the escaped suspects, Asar Michael Sesugh, was hiding somewhere in the Kansho axis of Makurdi.
“Operatives made for the location. Upon sighting the team, Sesugh and his suspected cult members opened fire on them.
“Operatives of the Commission returned fire in self-defence. All the suspected cult members, including Sesugh, fled owing to the exchange of fire between them and EFCC’s operatives.
“However, Sesugh was later sighted lying in the pool of his blood by the roadside.” The statement read further.
The EFCC said he was promptly taken to the Police Cottage Hospital at the Police Headquarters in Makurdi where he was pronounced dead.
The anti-graft agency reported the matter at the Benue State Police Headquarters, Makurdi with the police embarking on investigation to ascertain the circumstances surrounding his death and making efforts to arrest other fleeing members of the suspected cult.
Preliminary reports of the findings by the police, according to the EFCC, have also been released to the public.
While expressing its condolences to the family of the deceased, the commission reiterated that Sesugh did not die in its custody.
“The Commission wishes to state clearly that the dead suspect did not die in custody and was not on bail at any time.
“While the EFCC expresses its condolences to the family of the deceased suspect, it will not condone any further attack of its Operatives or breach of its internal security by suspects.
“The Commission assures that it will continue to act in the best interests of the nation.” It said.
Attached to the statement by the EFCC were pictures of the opened roof of the toilet where Sesusgh and the two other suspects escaped from before his death during the fire exchange.