Ondo youth leader Oluyemi Fasipe has condemned the act of vandalism carried out by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Owo on Tuesday.

Mr Fasipe, widely known as Yemmie Fash, said EFCC has legal powers to fight economic and financial crimes that did not include wanton destruction assets of Nigerian youths.

In a statement on Wednesday, Mr Fasipe said operatives were wrong to destroy the properties of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic students, especially when they had no resistance from arresting anyone that was suspected of internet fraud.

“I am totally in support of the crime-fighting efforts of the EFCC, nobody should misrepresent me on this,” Mr Fasipe said. “However, the idea of vandalising the properties of suspects, especially the youth, must be condemned in the strongest term.”

Anti-graft officials were accused of extorting money from students during a raid of young students around Owo earlier this week.

A spokesman for the EFCC did not immediately return a request seeking comments about the operation or how officers conducted themselves. But Mr Fasipe said authorities should not resort to violence and damaging of assets.

While further decrying the action, Mr Fasipe said the economic losses inflicted on people around Owo could spark yet another round of protests amongst the youths.

“We were all witnesses to the EndSARS protests of last year as well as the reasons for the agitation,” the rights advocate said. “Nigeria nation apparently cannot afford to witness another round of youth protest because of the prevailing security challenges in the country and operatives should refrain from triggering another round of agitation with their acts of vandalism and extortion.”