The Nigeria Police Force says it arrested 16 suspected internet fraudsters in Ughelli, Delta State following a violent protest in the state on Tuesday.Some Nigerian youths on Tuesday stormed the streets of Ughelli to protest against the operations of the anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The angry protesters were seen disrupting vehicle movements, burning tyres and displaying banners with inscriptions saying, ‘#EndEFCC’.

The youths protested at the Otovwodo junction of Ughelli community, Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state causing apprehension in the area.

The youths claimed the commission had been wrongly profiling them as fraudsters and arresting them without any concrete evidence to prove the charges swiftly filed against them.

SaharaReporters gathered that the protest started around 11:00 am.

The protestors allegedly included suspected internet fraudsters, otherwise called Yahoo boys.

However, the state police commissioner, CP Ari Muhammed Ali, told journalists on Wednesday that the arrested suspects have been transferred to the state command in Asaba.

He said he was in Ughelli to assess the extent of damage done by the protestors and denied that anyone was killed by the police during the protest.

According to him, policemen are “very professional in handling situations”.