Conflicting reports have emerged regarding an incident at the White Hill Hotel on Shiroro Road in Chanchaga LGA, Niger State. Initial reports suggested that gunmen, disguised as operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had abducted ten individuals from the hotel in the early hours of February 27. However, subsequent information and official statements from the EFCC have painted a different picture.

According to Zagazola Makama, a publication focusing on the Lake Chad region, the alleged abduction occurred around 4:58 am. The report claimed that the armed men disabled the hotel’s CCTV cameras before forcibly taking away ten people to an unknown location. This prompted concerns about potential banditry and security breaches in the area. An assistant commissioner of police with the State Intelligence Department (SID) confirmed that investigations were underway to ascertain the identities of the perpetrators and locate the victims.

Countering these initial reports, sources within the White Hill Hotel stated that the incident involved EFCC operatives who arrested individuals suspected of internet fraud, commonly known as "yahoo boys." Speaking anonymously, the source indicated that the arrested individuals were taken to Kaduna. The source refuted claims of a kidnapping by bandits disguised as EFCC officials.

SP Wasiu Abiodun, the spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, also dismissed the banditry narrative. He directed inquiries to the EFCC for clarification regarding their operations in the state, further casting doubt on the initial reports of an abduction.

The EFCC has since claimed responsibility for the raid, clarifying that their operatives arrested eleven suspected internet fraudsters at the White Hill Hotel. In a statement released on Sunday, the anti-graft commission stated that the arrests occurred "in broad daylight," contradicting the earlier reports of an operation carried out in the early hours of the morning. The EFCC also stated that the operation took place on February 27, 2025. The commission detailed that the suspects were apprehended following credible intelligence regarding their alleged involvement in fraudulent internet activities.

The EFCC's statement further mentioned the recovery of two vehicles and thirteen phones from the suspects. The commission emphasized that the arrests were conducted professionally, without any motive or indication of abduction. The EFCC confirmed that the suspects would be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.

Despite the EFCC's statement, conflicting accounts persist. An anonymous source claimed that armed men stormed the hotel around 5 a.m., disconnected the CCTV cameras, and raided the premises without identifying themselves as security operatives. The source suggested that the armed men may have been targeting specific guests, possibly for kidnapping and ransom.

The EFCC has firmly dismissed these claims, asserting that the operation was neither carried out by bandits nor kidnappers. The agency maintains that the suspects will face legal proceedings after investigations are complete.