The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has raised concern that the increasing rate of internet fraud is worsening visa restrictions imposed on innocent Nigerians abroad.
EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, said fraudulent practices not only jeopardize the future of those involved but also damage Nigeria’s global reputation, leading to tougher travel conditions for law-abiding citizens. His remarks were delivered on Monday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, by Chief Superintendent CSE Coker Oyegunle during an event organized by the Coalition of Nigerian Youth on Security and Safety Affairs. The commission issued a statement on Tuesday reiterating the warning.
At the same forum, a representative of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mathew Ewah, cautioned that drug abuse remains one of the most serious threats facing Nigerian youths. The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) also urged vigilance against pipeline vandalism in the South-South region.
The EFCC has in recent months intensified its crackdown on cybercrime nationwide. In August, operatives of its Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 arrested 38 suspected internet fraudsters at a hotel in Ikorodu, Lagos, after days of surveillance. Items seized included vehicles, mobile phones, and substances suspected to be narcotics.
Similarly, the commission’s Benin Zonal Directorate recently secured the conviction of 12 individuals, including two brothers, over fraud-related offences.
