Nigerian rapper Skales has criticised operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following a recent operation at an estate in Lekki, Lagos, which has sparked debate about how suspected internet fraudsters are arrested.
The singer expressed concern over the way the agency carries out some of its operations, arguing that officers should not treat residents in a manner that makes them feel unsafe in their own homes.
Reacting to videos from the raid at Applewood Estate on Orchid Road, Lekki, Skales questioned why security operatives sometimes use force to enter buildings when carrying out arrests. He compared their actions to those of armed robbers and called for more respectful treatment of citizens.
The operation took place in the early hours of Monday, October 26, 2026. The EFCC later announced that 21 people suspected of cybercrime had been arrested, while five expensive cars were recovered. The commission said preliminary investigations implicated 19 suspects, while two others were released.
The agency also defended its officers, insisting that the operation was carried out professionally. It explained that a woman who allegedly tried to alert the suspects during the raid had her phone temporarily seized before it was returned.
Skales’ criticism is partly connected to his own experience with the EFCC in 2023, when officers entered his home during an operation to arrest two suspected internet fraudsters. He previously said the incident frightened his family and left him traumatised.
Although the EFCC maintains that its recent operation was professional, the incident has renewed discussions about how law enforcement agencies can fight cybercrime while respecting people’s rights.
The debate continues as Nigerians react to the raid and the rapper’s comments.