1 month ago
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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has raised concerns that the rising cases of net fraud perpetrated by fraudsters notoriously known arsenic ‘yahoo boys’ were worsening visa restrictions for law-abiding Nigerians abroad.
The EFCC chairman, Ola Olukoyede, said fraudulent practices not lone ruin the aboriginal of perpetrators but besides tarnish Nigeria’s planetary reputation, starring to stricter question conditions for guiltless citizens.
Olukoyede was represented by Chief Superintendent of the EFCC, CSE Coker Oyegunle, gave the informing connected Monday astatine an lawsuit successful Port Harcourt, Rivers State, organised by the Coalition of Nigerian Youth connected Security and Safety Affairs. His remarks were contained successful a connection released by the committee connected Tuesday.
According to the EFCC, “internet fraud, wealth laundering, and economical sabotage outgo Nigeria billions of naira annually, undermining nationalist maturation and depriving citizens of infrastructure, jobs, and opportunities. Beyond the economical damage, the crimes erode Nigeria’s planetary representation and taxable guiltless Nigerians to stricter visa restrictions abroad.”
Olukoyede besides cautioned young radical against chasing shortcuts done fraud, urging them to alternatively transmission their creativity into productive ventures specified arsenic integer innovation, entrepreneurship, agriculture, and the originative industry.
He was quoted arsenic saying, “Fraud is not success; it is simply a trap. Easy come, casual go. Many who travel the way of ‘yahoo-yahoo’ ever extremity up losing their freedom, reputation, and future. The instrumentality is catching up with them and integer footprints ne'er disappear. Don’t destruct your time with shortcuts today.”
The EFCC brag reaffirmed the commission’s committedness to intensify sensitisation, enforcement, and collaboration with communities to curb cybercrime and related offences.
At the aforesaid event, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) representative, Mathew Ewah, described cause maltreatment arsenic 1 of the astir unsafe threats facing Nigerian youths, portion officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) warned against pipeline vandalism successful the South-South region.
The EFCC has precocious stepped up its clampdown connected cybercrime crossed the country. In August, operatives of its Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 arrested 38 suspected net fraudsters astatine Mambillah Hotel, Ikorodu, aft days of surveillance. Items recovered from the suspects included vehicles, mobile phones, and substances suspected to beryllium narcotics.
Similarly, the Benin Zonal Directorate secured the condemnation of 12 persons, including 2 brothers, for fraud-related offences. They were sentenced by Justice M. Itsueli of Edo State High Court aft pleading blameworthy to charges bordering connected beforehand interest fraud, possession of fraudulent documents, and retention of proceeds of crime.
LEADERSHIP reports that the informing by the EFCC came against the backdrop of caller U.S. visa restrictions connected Nigerians. In July, Washington revised its visa reciprocity schedule, cutting the validity of definite non-immigrant visas to 3 months and restricting them to azygous entry. The affected categories see the B1/B2 visas for concern and tourism, arsenic good arsenic F and J visas for students and exchange visitors.
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