Operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) reportedly stormed the IHS Towers office in Wuse 2, Abuja, on Thursday, triggering panic as they allegedly threatened to shoot.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that the officers seized more than 40 mobile phones, laptops, and smartwatches from employees during the raid.
The operation occurred in the middle of a presentation by Amnesty International to mark World Human Rights Day. Sources at the scene said ICPC personnel locked down the facility, preventing movement in or out, effectively keeping Amnesty International representatives and other staff “hostage.”
Two Amnesty International officials were reportedly still trapped in the building at the time this report was filed.
One source noted:
“The ICPC personnel collected over 40 mobile phones, laptops, and smartwatches. Amnesty International team members who were giving a World Human Rights Day presentation are still being held inside. The operatives are threatening to shoot anyone who attempts to leave or enter the building.”
Another witness described the atmosphere as highly tense, adding that officers disrupted the event and repeatedly warned participants to remain inside the conference room.
IHS Towers, which began operations in Nigeria in 2001, has since grown into a major player in telecom infrastructure. The company’s main headquarters is in Lagos, with regional offices in Abuja, Ibadan, Enugu, Asaba, Kano, and Port Harcourt.