“70% OF STUDENTS IN NIGERIA ARE INTERNET FRAUDSTERS” BUT OUR CHAIRMAN NEVER SAID THAT EFCC

Reportedly, Ola Olukoyede, the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), called 70% of university students in Nigeria online fraudsters. The EFCC has refuted these claims.

Seven out of ten kids are participating in cybercrimes, which is concerning, Olukoyede was cited as saying on Monday at an event in Abuja.

On Thursday, however, Olukoyede’s remarks were misunderstood, according to a statement made by Dele Oyewale, the anti-graft agency’s spokesman.

According to an EFCC official, the chairman of the organization never stated during the occasion that seven out of ten Nigerian students commit online fraud.

Seven out of ten young people may become involved in cybercrime if Olawale and Olukoyede’s statement about youth engagement in internet fraud is not handled in the next ten years is taken seriously.

The statement reads: “The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes, EFCC, has been drawn to some needless misrepresentation of the concerns of the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede to the rising incidences of internet-related crimes involving youths across the country.

“At a recent meeting with some representatives of Civil Society Organisations, Csos paid him a courtesy visit and 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 ten years, seven out 10 of our youths may be getting involved in cybercrime.

“At no time did he say that “seven out of 10″ Nigerian students are criminals”. His concerns still bother breaking the jinx of the mass indulgence of youths in cybercrime.

“The EFCC wishes to assure the public that Olukoyede is doubly committed to the progress of Nigerian youths and this underscores his calls for collaborative interventions in offering them more productive and sustainable alternatives.”