The Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, has described internet fraud commonly known as ‘yahoo yahoo’ as a crime against humanity and God.
He added that yahoo yahoo is not a sustainable way of life.
Bawa spoke during a sensitisation lecture on the Role of Youths in Curbing Economic and Financial Crimes at the National Youth Service Corps Orientation Camps across the country on Thursday.
The EFCC boss charged the youth to embrace hard work and shun the lure of quick and instant wealth.
Speaking through Williams Oseghale, Head, Public Affairs Department, Benin Zonal Command at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Okada, Edo State, Bawa said, “There is no short cut to success. Those who take short cuts are always cut short. Yahoo yahoo is a crime against humanity and God. It is not a sustainable way of life. The EFCC urges you to be innovative, forward looking and hard thinkers.”
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At the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp Iseyin, Oyo State, Bawa charged Nigerian youths to shun corruption and other social vices that could endanger their future and jeopardise the socio-economic growth of the country.
The EFCC boss stated that the excuses of poverty and unemployment being given by youths engaging in internet fraud do not justify the criminal act.
He also said that the claim to reparation as basis for internet fraud is unacceptable and criminal.
He stated that the youths must rise to the challenge of curbing economic and financial crimes, including corruption in our society and not use poverty and unemployment as basis to perpetrate internet fraud.
The message was presented on his behalf by DSE Egbodofo Olumide, Head of Public Affairs Department of the Ibadan Zonal Command of the EFCC.
“The menace of internet fraud among our youths is worrisome as youths are getting involved deeply in cybercrimes to the detriment of their future and the image of our nation. The fraudulent claim to reparation as basis for internet fraud is unacceptable and criminal.
“The lazy excuses of poverty and unemployment as rationalization and justification for internet crimes are also untenable as poverty should not be an excuse for criminality, and unemployment cannot be a basis for defrauding others of their hard-earned income,” Bawa said.