The Nigeria Police Force, through the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) has flagged off a month-long nationwide online awareness campaign on Online Safety and Cyber-Hygiene aimed at strengthening digital security and promoting responsible online behaviour among Nigerians.
The campaign, tagged “Real Odogwu no dey hide face,” seeks to educate the public on the growing threats of cybercrime and encourage proactive digital vigilance.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Abuja, the Director, NPF-NCCC, CP Ifeanyi Uche Henry, PhD, highlighted the borderless and evolving nature of cyber threats, noting that the initiative is a direct response to the rising incidents of Identity Theft, Romance Scam, Business Email Compromise (BEC), Sextortion, and Phishing targeting Nigerian citizens. He emphasized that many cyber attacks succeed due to lack of awareness, stressing the need for citizens to adopt responsible online practices to safeguard their digital identities.
The Director warned individuals involved in cybercrime to desist, noting that the Centre’s Cyberhawk teams continue to deploy advanced digital tracking mechanisms to identify and prosecute offenders in accordance with the law.
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, psc(+), NPM commended the support of the UK National Crime Agency and the City of London Police, noting that the collaboration emphasises the importance of international partnerships in tackling cybercrime and securing digital spaces.
The Nigeria Police Force therefore urges members of the public to remain cyber-aware, verify information, protect their devices and digital identities with the same vigilance used in safeguarding their physical valuables, including safeguarding financial information such as ATM PINs, OTPs and BVNs; adopting strong passwords and multi-factor authentication; avoiding suspicious links or messages designed to create urgency; and protecting sensitive personal or corporate information by using secure communication channels.
Ag. ACP BENJAMIN HUNDEYIN, anipr, mipra
Force Public Relations Officer
Force Headquarters, Abuja
