The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said that the rise in internet fraud cases is making it harder for innocent Nigerians who want to travel overseas to get visas.
According to the Nigerian Tribune, EFCC Chairman Olanipekun Olukoyede warned that the problem not only threatens the future of those who commit it, but it also hurts Nigeria’s reputation, making it harder for law-abiding residents to travel.
Chief Superintendent of the EFCC, CSE Coker Oyegunle, spoke for Olukoyede on Monday at an event in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, put on by the Coalition of Nigerian Youth on Security and Safety Affairs. The Commission released a statement yesterday that included his comments.
He said that crimes like computer fraud, money laundering, and economic sabotage cost Nigeria billions of naira every year, stopping growth and keeping people from getting to jobs, infrastructure, and chances.
The EFCC statement said, “Internet fraud hurts Nigeria’s economy and hurts its reputation around the world, making it harder for innocent Nigerians to get visas to other countries.”
Olukoyede told young people in Nigeria to use their creativity in useful ways, including digital innovation, starting a business, farming, or the creative industry. He also said that fraud is a trap, not a method to get ahead.
“Fraud is not a way to get ahead; it’s a trap.” It comes and goes easily. A lot of people who pursue the “yahoo-yahoo” path end up losing their independence, reputation, and future. The law is catching up with them, and digital footprints never go away. He said, “Don’t ruin your tomorrow by taking shortcuts today.”
He also said again that the Commission is committed to raising awareness, enforcing the law, and working with the community to fight fraud.
People from other agencies who were there also raised concerns. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said that drug misuse is one of the most hazardous hazards facing young people in Nigeria. The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) also advised against vandalizing pipelines in the South-South.
The EFCC has been cracking down on cybercrime more and more in the last few months. In August, the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 detained 38 people who were thought to be internet fraudsters at a hotel in Ikorodu, Lagos. They found cars, phones, and drugs that they thought were drugs.
The Benin Zonal Directorate also got 12 people, including two brothers, convicted of crimes relating to advance fee fraud and having fake documents.
About the Author
