Tensions escalated outside the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) headquarters in Abuja on February 16, 2026, as security operatives deployed tear gas to disperse crowds amid clashing demonstrations by supporters and critics of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
El-Rufai arrived at the EFCC complex for questioning over alleged financial impropriety during his tenure as governor.
His appearance drew rival groups: anti-El-Rufai protesters demanding thorough investigation and prosecution for corruption claims, and his supporters rallying with placards reading “El-Rufai is a citizen not a suspect,” “We stand with El-Rufai,” and “We stand with the law.”
Reports indicate that as crowds grew and confrontations intensified near the entrance, EFCC security officers along with possible reinforcements used tear gas, dogs, and demands for dispersal, primarily targeting pro-El-Rufai demonstrators.
Videos circulating online captured chaotic scenes, with voices shouting amid the gas, including one supporter vowing, “We will come back; when it clears, we will come back.”Some accounts accused the EFCC of uneven treatment, claiming anti-El-Rufai protesters were allowed closer to the premises while supporters faced dispersal.
One video from supporters alleged selective enforcement, with tear gas halting their group at the junction while opponents gathered nearby.
The incident follows recent controversies surrounding El-Rufai, including his televised admission of intercepting National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu's phone communications, leading to DSS charges under cybercrimes and communications laws.
Supporters have framed the EFCC probe as political persecution, linked to earlier airport tensions where security attempts to detain him were resisted.
No immediate reports of serious injuries emerged, though the use of tear gas disrupted the scene and drew criticism over crowd control tactics.
El-Rufai's team has previously condemned related security actions as unlawful.
Watch video below:
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everydayVIDEO: El-Rufai's supporters teargassed at EFCC headquarters in Abujapic.twitter.com/liSrf4zPl1
— TheCable (@thecableng) February 16, 2026
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