MAKURDI, BENUE STATE — The death of 16-year-old Atsar Sesugh has ignited widespread outrage and demands for accountability after the teenager was killed on May 23, 2026, during an encounter with operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Conflicting Accounts of the Incident

The circumstances surrounding Sesugh’s death have become a subject of intense controversy, with his family’s account diametrically opposed to the official statement released by the EFCC and the Benue State Police Command.

• The Family’s Allegation: Jennifer Atsar, the deceased’s mother, stated that her son a student and apprentice furniture maker had been previously arrested by the EFCC and released on bail. She alleges that officers withheld his phone and demanded ₦100,000 for its return. On May 23, she claims her son was lured to a hotel by undercover agents, where, upon seeing a firearm, he attempted to run, was chased, and was subsequently shot at close range.

• The EFCC/Police Official Version: The EFCC and Police maintain that Sesugh was a suspected internet fraudster who had escaped from detention on May 4. They claim that on May 23, operatives acting on intelligence encountered Sesugh and suspected cult associates at a hideout in Kanshio, Makurdi. According to authorities, the suspects opened fire, leading to a gunfight in which Sesugh was found fatally wounded.

  

Calls for Independent Investigation

The discrepancy between the official narrative and accounts from eyewitnesses and the victim's family has spurred calls for a transparent, impartial inquiry.

Human rights lawyer Marshal Abubakar has officially demanded an independent investigation into the "brutal murder" of the teenager, criticizing the commission for labeling a 16-year-old a "cultist" and "fraud suspect" without due process. Abubakar is also urging the Federal Government to implement sweeping reforms within the EFCC to address allegations of extrajudicial conduct.

The Human Cost

For Jennifer Atsar, a mother of five who supports her family by frying and selling garri, the loss is devastating. She has rejected all criminal labels placed on her son, describing him as a hardworking, easygoing child who supported his siblings through menial labor and his furniture apprenticeship.

As of this week, the family continues to appeal to the authorities to release their son’s body for burial, stating that they have been denied access to the remains since the incident occurred.