in Makurdi After Fierce Gun Battle with EFCC Operatives — Cybercrime Suspect Shot Dead

A dramatic turn of events has unfolded in Makurdi, Benue State, where a cybercrime suspect, Asar Sesugh, who had earlier escaped from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission's custody, lost his life in a gun battle with EFCC operatives. Sesugh was among 26 suspects arrested by the EFCC's Makurdi Zonal Directorate on April 28, 2026, for their alleged involvement in cybercrime. Following their arrest, the suspects were profiled and remanded in custody based on a court order obtained from a Magistrate's Court. However, Sesugh and two other suspects managed to escape from the directorate's holding facility on May 4, 2026, after they requested to use the lavatory and broke through the roof to gain their freedom. Despite repeated efforts to re-arrest them, the EFCC was unsuccessful until fresh intelligence on May 21, 2026, indicated that Sesugh was hiding in the Kansho axis of Makurdi. Upon locating him, Sesugh and his suspected cult associates opened fire on the EFCC operatives, who returned fire in self-defence. In the ensuing exchange, Sesugh was shot and later found lying in a pool of blood by the roadside. He was rushed to the Police Cottage Hospital at the Police Headquarters in Makurdi, where he was pronounced dead. The EFCC has reported the incident to the Benue State Police Command for investigation and has clarified that Sesugh did not die in custody, contrary to claims circulating on social media. The Commission expressed its condolences to the family of the deceased while emphasizing its commitment to acting in the best interests of the nation and not tolerating any further attacks on its operatives or breaches of its internal security.