Contrary to insinuations that some politicians currently under Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigation were responsible for the attack on the farmhouse of the Acting Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, the suspects have been arrested by the Police and have explained why they carried out the attack.
The suspects who were paraded at the Force Headquarters include a dismissed Nigerian Air Force Officer, Vincent Michael, with number: NAF12/26972L/CPL, Inalegwu Omikpa, and Francis Ochife.
Speaking on the reason why they launched the attack, Michael told newsmen on Monday that they raided the farmhouse because they were informed that Magu was keeping huge sums of money there. He said they were convinced that the money was there because the farm had just two sheep and a cow, with two policemen detailed to provide security.
According to him;
“In November 2017, a friend of mine told me that his friend, Omikpa, told him that there was money at Magu’s house and that we should go and take it. At first, I did not buy the idea but he called me again and told me that we were not going to rob. He said all we needed to do was to go and dig the soakaway and get the money out.
So, December 12, we went to the place and when we got there with two other soldiers, who were contacted by Omikpa, the captain grabbed the policeman who was on duty, I held his neck and Omikpa tied his hand and leg. After he was tied, I picked up the digger and made my way to the soakaway. I noticed a ray of torchlight and then I went back and noticed that a boy who kills animals at the farm was also there.
They tied him also and the captain came to join me where I was breaking the soakaway. I broke two soakaways but I did not see any money. I received a phone call later that people had started noticing that we were on the farm, so we left.” He added that they suspected that the money may have been relocated to another area.
On who was responsible for the death of Sergeant Haruna Sarki, who was on guard, he said:
"Omikpa killed the policeman because we left him with the policeman and he later came to join us where we were breaking the soakaway,”
Meanwhile, the Deputy Force Spokesman, SP Aremu Adeniran, said Michael was handed over to the police by the NAF after he was dismissed from service for his involvement in the attack. H e added that the two NAF personnel who also participated in the operation were facing disciplinary action and would be handed over to the Police.
He disclosed that during their arrest, two police AK47 rifles, two mobile phones, two magazines and 60 rounds of AK47 ammunition were recovered
