The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) Mr. Ola Olukoyede has restated the Commission's
commitment to combating cyberbullying and online harassment in Nigeria.
Olukoyede reiterated this in Abuja at the National
Association of Nigeria Students ,NANS’ conference on Cyber Security
Awareness and Best Practices at the weekend.
Speaking through Assistant Superintendent of the
EFCC, ASE Olalekan Ogunjobi, the Chairman emphasized the need for collective
action against the crime.
“Cyberbullying and online harassment have become
significant issues globally, including Nigeria. The EFCC is committed to
investigating and prosecuting cases involving financial crimes, including those
related to cyberbullying and online harassment. As a Commission, we
recognize the devastating impact of cyberbullying on individuals, particularly
young people, and we are determined to play our part in creating a safer online
environment’’, he said
He further said that the EFCC has established
specialized Units to investigate and prosecute cyber-related offences, even as
the Commission is collaborating with other agencies to tackle the
offences.
Olukoyede noted that the EFCC’s primary mandate was to
combat financial crimes and to this end, it is making significant strides
in addressing cyberbullying and online harassment, particularly when these acts
involve financial exploitation.
“Cyberbullying is the use of digital platforms to
deliberately harass, threaten, or humiliate individuals. Online
harassment encompasses a broader range of digital abuse, including stalking,
doxing, and hate speech. These issues are particularly pervasive among young
people and can have severe psychological, emotional, and even physical
consequences”, he said.
The EFCC’s boss emphasized the importance of
understanding the complexities of cyberbullying and online harassment. “It is
essential that we recognize the nuances of online abuse and take a
comprehensive approach to addressing the issues . This includes education,
awareness, and enforcement. We must work together to create a culture of
respect and empathy online”, he said.
Explaining further, he stressed that, “In
Nigeria, the legal framework addressing these issues is still evolving, but
there are existing laws and regulations that can be applied to combat
cyberbullying and online harassment such as, Cybercrime (Prohibition,
Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Code
of Practice Child Rights Act, 2003, Criminal Code Act (Southern Nigeria) and
Penal Code Act (Northern Nigeria) as well as Data Protection Regulation,
2019”
Speaking at the conference, the organizer,
Comrade Muniretu Isah, said that the purpose of the program was to educate
and empower students with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the
online world safely by protecting them from cyber threats.
“As students, you are future leaders, innovators, and
change-makers of our society, it is our responsibility to provide you with
opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive, so I urge you all present to make the
most of the program by engaging and networking with the speakers and resource
persons at this event.” she said
Also, speaking, the National President of NANS,
Comrade Lucky Emonefe, commended the hard work of the organizers, “as
the initiative is timely and most beneficial due to the rising concerns of
cybercrimes and other digital threats”. He urged students to imbibe the
right attitude when using the internet.
In attendance were the President of the All-Africa Students Union AASU, H.E. Osisiogu Osikenyi Enyinnaya and other prominent student leaders.
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