“Spare the rod and spoil the child” is what the Bible says. However, this does not mean that we should kill our children in the name of correcting them for wrongdoing.
Parents should strive to discipline their children with one hand, if necessary, and draw them back with love and affection using the other hand. Our children represent our tomorrow and future leaders who must be nurtured for greatness. They will take over from us when we are gone.
Away from this preamble, in 2022, Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), arrested 402 suspected cybercriminals in the Lekki area of Lagos, 71 in Benin, Edo State, as well as other parts of the country.
I applaud the anti-graft agency’s fantastic work in combating corruption. Kudos to them! However, minimising the activities of cybercriminals and other offenders in Nigeria requires far more.
Unemployment undoubtedly drives some desperate and morally-ambiguous youths to engage in reckless and unethical behaviour as they struggle to survive in a challenging world.
As society evolves, so too do criminal methods, both online and offline. Tackling criminality on all fronts remains a constant task for governments at all levels.
Let’s turn our lens to Nigeria, the self-proclaimed giant of Africa. Despite its estimated population of 200 million people across six geo-political zones, with some 35 million actively engaging in social media, our beloved country suffers staggering losses to cybercrime. Every year, an estimated N78 million vanishes into the hands of these criminals, a sum that could transform lives and provide vital social amenities.
Read also: Nigeria’s financial sector under siege: The alarming rise of cyber fraud and inadequate defenses
Let’s be clear: cybercrime is unpatriotic and deserves due punishment. However, a harsh reality remains – the “yahoo-yahoo boys,” as they are called, possess skills and knowledge unavailable to many of us. Their expertise in online fraud, hacking, impersonation, and even romance scams grants them a disturbing advantage.
Dr Bone Efoziem, CEO of Strict Guards Security Limited, at the Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria, CRAN, annual lecture/award ceremony, held Thursday, December, 7, 2023, at Providence Hotel in Ikeja, GRA, Lagos, said “what is regarded today as yahoo-yahoo boys, started as 419, where white ladies were being targeted.
He explains that cybercrime in Nigeria has morphed over time, evolving from “Yahoo-Yahoo” to “Yahoo-Yahoo Plus” and now “G-Yahoo,” with the latter incorporating the use of juju for alleged victim hypnotization.
In all fairness, governments at various levels, both past and present, have strived tirelessly to eradicate all forms of criminality, including cybercrime. Their efforts to cleanse our society deserve commendation.
Read also: Rising cyber fraud in Nigeria and banks’ losses
The United Nations says cybercrime is about people using the internet, computer and online platforms to defraud, impersonate others, carry out romance scams, identity theft, ATM spoofing and hacking among other crimes.
Efoziem, whom I wholeheartedly agree with, has repeatedly emphasised “that repentant yahoo-yahoo boys who have gone through correctional facilities should be rehabilitated and reintegrated into society.”
I boldly state that these “born-again” boys, having served their time and undergone rehabilitation, should be encouraged, motivated, and empowered by the government at all levels – national, state, and local – to utilise their knowledge and expertise positively in the service of our nation.
This approach can actively reduce the prevalence of fraud, impersonation, romance scams, identity theft, hacking in government agencies, banks, corporate bodies, and even among high-profile individuals.
Emmanuel Udom, a journalist, teacher and private investigator could be reached via: [email protected]
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