Olukoyede denies saying ‘7 out of 10’ Nigerian youths are criminals
Glory Ebomah
The chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr Ola Olukoyede has denied the report he was quoted to have said that ‘7 out of 10 Nigerian youths’ are criminals.
Head, Media and Publicity, EFCC, Dele Oyewale, said in a statement on Thursday that at a recent meeting with some representatives of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Olukoyede asked for media enlightenment of youths as a counter-measure against the menace of internet fraud.
The statement read: “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.
“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.”
The statement added that at no time did he say that “seven out of 10″ Nigerian students are criminals”. His concerns still bother breaking the jinx of the 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.
