EFCC Fugitive Killed in Gunfire Exchange in Makurdi

On May 23, 2026, a gunfire exchange occurred in Makurdi, Benue State, resulting in the death of Sesugh Atser, a fugitive wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The incident unfolded around 3 PM when police, acting on credible intelligence, stormed a hideout behind a mechanic village in the Kanshio suburb.

The police encountered a group of suspects, allegedly cultists, who opened fire, leading to a shootout. While the other suspects managed to escape, Atser was found lying in a pool of blood on the roadside and was rushed to a cottage hospital in Makurdi, where he was confirmed dead.

DSP Udem Edet, the police spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, stated that Atser's corpse was deposited at the mortuary of the Benue State University Teaching Hospital for autopsy. The Deputy Commissioner of Police has directed the Criminal Investigation Department to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and to continue efforts to apprehend the remaining fugitives.