EFCC boss, Olukoyede insists 70% of youths may engage in internet fraud, if trend continues

Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede has clarified what he meant when he was quoted to have said “seven out of 10 Nigerian students are involved in cybercrimes.”

According to the EFCC boss, what he meant was if nothing is done to check the growing trend of internet fraud, 7 out of 10 Nigerians may be involved in the crime.

According to Olukoyede, he never meant that 70 per cent of Nigerian youths are criminal.

Olukoyede made the clarification in a statement posted on the X handle of the anti-corruption body on Thursday.

The statement, signed by Dele Oyewale, Head, Media & Publicity for the EFCC, 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 that paid him a courtesy visit, 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 10 years, 7 out 10 of our youths may be getting involved in cybercrimes. At no time, did he say that ‘seven out of 10 Nigerian students are criminals.’ His concerns still bother on breaking the jinx of mass indulgence of youths in cybercrimes.

“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.”