from EMEKA OKONKWO in Abuja, Nigeria
Nigeria Bureau
ABUJA, (CAJ News) – NIGERIA’S anti corruption agency is appealing for the support of tertiary institutions to tackle the involvement of students in internet fraud.
University students and graduates that struggle to secure employment in Africa’s largest nation and economy are denounced as the masterminds of cyber crime, earning the nickname of the “Yahoo Boys.”
Last week, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), tasked with tackling graft in Nigeria, came under fire when it conducted a night raid on the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in the south-western Osun State.
They arrested 69 students apparently without sufficient evidence by the organisations that the scholars were involved in crime.
The students were promptly released and EFCC with immediate effect stopped night raids with immediate effect.
Varsity scholars took to the streets to protest against the heavy-handedness by the anti-corruption agency.
Now, the EFCC has appealed to principals of tertiary institutions to work with the agency to curb cyber crime among students.
Michael Nzekwe, EFCC regional commander, called on authorities of tertiary institutions to put in place measures that would discourage students from indulging in crime.
EFCC has met chancellors, rectors and provosts of tertiary institutions to discuss how varsities could tackle students’ involvement in cyber crime.
Prof. Salawu Sadiku, Vice Chancellor of the Confluence University of Science and Technology, believes anti-corruption courses must be incorporated into the school curriculum and taught at all levels.
“We need to do more for students to focus on their studies and desist from all forms of cybercrimes,” Nzekwe said.
– CAJ News