A tragic and deeply contested incident in Makurdi, Benue State has sparked public outrage and calls for an independent investigation after a 16-year-old boy was shot dead during an alleged EFCC operation.
Jennifer Atsar, a 35-year-old garri seller and mother of five, says EFCC operatives shot and killed her firstborn son, Sesugh Atsar, on May 23, 2026, in the Kanshio area of Makurdi. According to her account, Sesugh had been granted bail by the EFCC and was not in custody at the time of his death.
She described how Sesugh and a friend arrived at a hotel on a motorcycle, and upon entering, an EFCC officer drew a gun. Sesugh allegedly ran in fear and was shot at close range. Witnesses at the scene reportedly prevented operatives from leaving without the body. Sesugh was said to have called out the name of the officer who shot him while gasping for breath.
However, the EFCC presents a different account. The Commission’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, stated that Sesugh and two others were arrested on April 26 and that on May 5, the three suspects escaped through the roof of the facility after requesting to use the toilet, triggering a manhunt.
A family associate also alleged that although Sesugh had been granted bail, his mobile phone was withheld and he was asked to pay ₦100,000 before it could be released.
Sesugh’s body was taken to the Police Cottage Hospital in Makurdi, where he was confirmed dead, and subsequently deposited at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital mortuary pending autopsy.
The proprietress of New Educational Teaching Academic College, Makurdi, Mrs. Mimido Aondoana, described Sesugh as a disciplined and obedient student, further deepening questions about the official narrative.
The family and associates have called for a thorough, independent forensic investigation into the circumstances of his death.
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