The Acting Executive Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulkarim Chukkol has lamented the increasing cases of cybercrimes and other internet-related crimes in Kaduna State.
Speaking in Kaduna on Wednesday at a day workshop on Economic and Financial Crimes Reporting for Journalists he remarked that activities of cybercrimes have the tendency to smear the image of the nation and discourage hard work and legitimate engagements.
“We cannot overemphasize the effects of economic and financial crimes on individuals, institutions and nations. The rising cases of internet-related crimes in the Kaduna environment are worrisome.
Represented by the Commander EFCC zonal command, Aisha Abubakar, Chukkol disclosed that, “reports from this axis of the country are pointing towards active involvement of youths in this nefarious crime.
“Apart from denying victims of their hard-earned money, their activities have the tendency to smear the image of our nation and discourage hard work and legitimate engagements.
“I charge the media to beam more searchlights on this menace by providing the public with the requisite information to escape the antics of these criminals.
“Youths also need to be sensitised on the implications of indulging in internet crimes. We are often stressing the point that unemployment and economic challenges should not be excuses for any form of criminality.
Also adding his voice, the Head of Media, EFCC, Wilson Uwajaren disclosed that the anti-graft body has secured 3,785 convictions in 2022.
According to him, the commission has competent and reliable lawyers to prosecute its cases.
“Our cases are handled by our lawyers. They secured these convictions for the commission. And I want to tell you we are the only security agency that has two Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) in its fold.
In her closing remarks, the chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Hajiya Asmau Yawo thanked the commission for the engagement, pointing out that such partnership will help in the fight against economic and financial crimes.
She maintained that as a watchdog of society, journalists will not shun their civic responsibility to the public.
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