Tension in Abuja As EFCC, Bereau De Change Operators Clash Over Dollar Rate (VIDEO)

Personnel of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday violently clashed with Bureau De Change operators in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory.

SaharaReporters learnt that the BDCs were forced to close down to save face and arrest the free fall of the naira.

This comes as the naira further depreciated to about N1,700 to a dollar and N2,100 to the British Pounds.

SaharaReporters learnt that the EFCC employed the use of firearms to force the BDC operators to stop trading, leading to the firing of gunshots.

Earlier in February, SaharaReporters reported that President Bola Tinubu’s government was behind the shutting down of Bureaux De Change in Abuja.

Sources told SaharaReporters that Tinubu’s government had directed Nigeria’s secret police, Department of State Services (DSS) to force the BDCs to close down to save face over the free fall of the naira.

It was learnt that the DSS subsequently took over the market amid the government’s frantic effort to stabilise the naira and save face.

Nigeria’s naira had dropped to a record low against the dollar on the official market.

The Abuja chapter of the Association of Bureau De Change (BDC) Operators earlier announced the closure of their business premises indefinitely.

Abdulahi Dauran, its chairman blamed it on the scarcity of US dollars which he said was compounded by online banking and cryptocurrency transactions. However, SaharaReporters learnt that the association was compelled to shut down indefinitely.