Traditional rulers in Delta State tasked the authorities of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) with adopting a value-reorientation strategy aimed at an attitudinal paradigm shift among youths.
This, they argued, remained a sure way of curbing fraud, corruption, and other economic crimes plaguing the nation.
Speaking when they received the newly appointed Benin Zonal Director of the EFCC in charge of Delta, Edo, and Ondo States, Mr Effa Imoh Okim, during their monthly meeting in Asaba, the monarchs specifically urged the commission to tackle economic and financial crimes by stamping out the triggers that act as incentives to those involved in such crimes, particularly youths.
According to them, cyber crimes like 419 and ritual killings were not only negatively affecting the fabric of the nation’s existence but were also eroding the core values of hard work, dignity in labour, honesty, legitimate means of livelihood, and other time-tested positive traditional and cultural identity attributes of Nigerians.
The Chairman of the Council and Orodje of Okpe, Major-General Felix Mujakpuero (Rtd) Orhue 1, enjoined the commission to adopt preventive rather than reactive measures in order to decisively curb the trend.
On his path, the traditional ruler of Jesse Kingdom, Monday Ovie Whisky Udurhie 1, pointedly advised the Commission to engage in aggressive sensitization and enlightenment campaigns and seminars among youths at the senatorial district levels where the dangers inherent in internet crimes and fraudulent tendencies would be brought to the fore.
Others who spoke at the occasion also emphasised the need for the Commission to redouble its efforts at reducing the high incidence of fraud and cyber crimes in society, saying that the development was becoming worrisome.
Earlier, the Assistant Director of the Benin Zonal Office of the EFCC, overseeing Delta, Edo, and Ondo States, Mr Okim, said the visit was to solicit the support and prayers of the traditional rulers in the task of curbing internet and other economic crimes in society.
Mr Okim specifically appealed to the monarchs to assist the Commission in the area of sensitising youths in their domains of the negative consequences of indulging in crime, particularly internet fraud, advance fee fraud, otherwise called 419, and other economic crimes that had dented the image of Nigeria amongst the community of nations.
He said the Commission was focusing on a preventive rather than reactionary approach towards curbing the menace, and Evan solicited their support to enable him to succeed.
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