The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has raised fresh concerns over the growing involvement of Nigerian youths in cybercrime, describing it as a disturbing trend fuelled by misguided ambition and a disregard for integrity.
The Acting Zonal Director of the EFCC Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Assistant Commander of the EFCC (ACE I) Ahmed Ghali, expressed these concerns at a seminar organised by the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Bode Thomas Division, Area C Command Headquarters, Surulere, Lagos.
The seminar was themed “The Role of the Boy Child in Community Development and Safety.”
Speaking through ACE II Babatunde Sulaiman, Head of Public Affairs, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Ghali lamented that many Nigerian youths had “jeopardised their futures on the altar of excessive ambition,” often resorting to fraudulent online activities in the desperate pursuit of wealth.
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“As beautiful as your dreams may be, they could be doomed from the start if you don’t embrace the culture of discipline and integrity,” he warned.
“Many youths are increasingly drifting towards antisocial behaviours that can disrupt public peace, harm individuals, or degrade the environment. Internet fraud has now become a prevalent pastime among many youths.”
He described the internet as a “double-edged sword” and cautioned that while it could serve as a powerful tool for personal and community advancement, its misuse for criminal purposes would not only harm victims but also derail the ambitions of the perpetrators.
Ghali, therefore, urged Nigerian youths to redirect their energy and creativity towards legitimate income opportunities online rather than using them to defraud innocent individuals and organisations.
Also speaking at the event, Samuel Olaoluwa Akintoye, Chairman of the PCRC, Bode Thomas Division and Organising Secretary, Area C Command, said the initiative was designed to nurture a generation of responsible, ethical, and patriotic young Nigerians.
“The purpose of this initiative by the PCRC is to present a valuable opportunity to engage them and provide guidance on navigating the complex paths to realising their dreams. They need to reflect on how they can contribute to the development of their communities,” he said.
