The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has issued a warning about the growing number of Nigerian youths turning to fraudulent online activities in pursuit of fast wealth. The agency sounded the alarm during a seminar in Lagos, highlighting the risks and urging young people to choose integrity over illegal gains.
Ahmed Ghali, Acting Zonal Director of the EFCC’s Lagos Directorate 2, addressed stakeholders at a Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) event themed “The Role of the Boy Child in Community Development and Safety.” Ghali expressed concern that many young Nigerians are jeopardizing their futures by engaging in internet fraud and other cybercrimes.
“Many youths are not only amoral but have also become lost in the rat race for unearned riches through fraudulent online activities,” Ghali said. He stressed that while the internet can be a tool for financial empowerment and community development, using it for criminal purposes harms both victims and the perpetrators themselves.
Ghali urged young people to redirect their energy and creativity toward legitimate online income streams. “If you use the internet wisely, it can elevate you financially and enable you to contribute to your community’s development. However, if you choose to use the internet for criminal purposes, you won’t just harm your unsuspecting victims, but you’ll also jeopardize your own personal goals,” he added.
Prince Samuel Olaoluwa Akintoye, Chairman of the PCRC’s Bode Thomas Division, said the initiative aims to nurture a generation of responsible, ethical, and patriotic young Nigerians. He emphasized the importance of guiding youths to navigate the complex path to achieving their dreams while contributing positively to society.
The EFCC’s warning comes amid rising concerns about the dangers associated with internet fraud. The agency recently reported that some cybercriminals have escalated their activities to include armed robbery, kidnapping, and ritual killings. These developments, the EFCC says, pose increasing threats to public safety.
Earlier this year, the commission mourned the loss of Assistant Superintendent Aminu Sahabi Harisu, who was killed while tracking a suspected internet fraudster. The EFCC reiterated its commitment to combating cybercrime and called on the public to reject the notion that so-called “Yahoo boys and girls” are harmless.
