Media reports claiming that Ola Olukoyede, the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), classified seven out of ten Nigerian students as criminals have been denied by the anti-graft agency.
Dele Oyewale, the spokesperson for the anti-graft agency, clarified in a statement released on Thursday via X (formerly known as Twitter) that Olukoyede called for increased media enlightenment among youths as a counter-measure against the growing threat of internet fraud during a meeting with Civil Society Organisations.
Olukoyede’s comments, Oyewale said, were intended to address the growing number of youth-related internet crimes.
The chairman emphasised the necessity of taking aggressive steps to resist the trend and voiced concerns about the possible danger to the country’s future leadership if youth engagement in cybercrime is not adequately addressed.
“At a recent meeting with some representatives of Civil Society Organisations, CSOs that paid him a courtesy visit, he called for wider media enlightenment of youths as a counter-measure against the menace of internet fraud.
“He did say that reports and intelligence available to him indicated that, unless this trajectory of youth involvement in internet fraud is addressed and reversed, the future of their leadership of our great nation may be threatened and if it continues in the next 10 years, 7 out 10 of our youths may be getting involved in cybercrimes.
“At no time did he say that “seven out of 10 Nigerian students are criminals,” the statement read.
Instead, his focus remains on breaking the trend of widespread youth engagement in cybercrime.
The EFCC reaffirmed its dedication to fighting online fraud and supporting programmes that positively empower Nigerian youth.
