The Uyo Zonal Commander of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE Bawa Hamidu has cautioned teenagers across the country to steer clear of involvement in any form of cybercrimes, stressing that such crimes may earn them conviction records that cannot be expunged.
He gave the charge on Tuesday, June 7, 2022 at Bridge End High Schools, Calabar, Cross River State, during a sensitization session. Bawa, who spoke on the theme: “Crime does not pay and ‘yahoo-yahoo’ is not a course of study”, condemned a steady rise in the statistics of teenagers and youths being arrested and convicted for various internet- related crimes.
According to him “once you are charged to court and convicted, you become an ex-convict and nothing can expunge that record. Then, tomorrow when you’re about to advance in life, or get employed or offered an appointment, someone will dig up that record and you’re ruined, no matter your professional qualification”.
Head, Public Affairs Department of the Zone, Chief Superintendent of the EFCC, CSE Theresa Nwosu reminded the students that whatever is put on the internet stays in the public domain forever. “Always remember that the internet does not forget, and as long as the internet does not forget, the EFCC will not forgive any crime, and that’s why we’re here to tell you that crime does not pay, so you must desist from it” she said.
During the interactive session, students asked very relevant internet -related questions ranging from how to identify cyber crimes, report cybercrimes, measures that teenagers could adopt in order not to fall prey to criminal baits, among others.
A high point of the programme was the inauguration of the EFCC Integrity Club. Proprietress of the school, Mrs. Magi Ndomegba thanked the EFCC for the sensitization, especially the Integrity Club initiative, which she said was worthy of emulation by other agencies.