EFCC Urges South-South Youths to Reject Fraud, Embrace Innovation

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has called on youths in the South-South region to shun internet fraud and other financial crimes, describing such acts as a “deadly trap” that destroys lives and future prospects.

Olukoyede delivered the charge on Monday, September 15, 2025, at an event organized by the Coalition of Nigerian Youth on Security and Safety Affairs (CONYSSA) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The theme of the event was “Uniting South-South Youths in the Fight Against Cultism, Pipeline Vandalism, Internet Fraud, Money Laundering, Drug Abuse, Human Trafficking and Economic Sabotage.”

Speaking through the Head of the Advance Fee Fraud Section of EFCC’s Port Harcourt Zonal Directorate, Chief Superintendent Coker Oyegunle, Olukoyede warned that while fraud may appear to offer quick financial gains, it ultimately leads to shame, imprisonment, and lost opportunities.

“Fraud is not success; it is a trap. Easy come, easy go. Many who follow the path of ‘yahoo-yahoo’ always end up losing their freedom, reputation, and future. The law is catching up with them and digital footprints never disappear. Don’t destroy your tomorrow with shortcuts today,” he said.

The EFCC boss highlighted the enormous economic cost of internet fraud, money laundering, and economic sabotage, which collectively deprive Nigeria of billions of naira annually, weaken national growth, and limit the provision of infrastructure and jobs. He further noted that such crimes tarnish Nigeria’s international image and trigger stricter visa restrictions for citizens traveling abroad.

Olukoyede urged youths to channel their energy into productive sectors such as digital innovation, entrepreneurship, agriculture, and creative industries, stressing that these areas provide sustainable opportunities without the risks associated with crime.

“Youths are the engine of our nation. If you choose fraud, you are choosing to destroy your tomorrow. But if you choose creativity, innovation and honesty, you are building a Nigeria that will compete with the best in the world,” he added.

He reaffirmed EFCC’s commitment to continuous sensitization, enforcement, and collaboration with communities to combat fraud, urging stakeholders, particularly young people, to partner in building a nation defined by integrity and prosperity.

In his remarks, Assistant Commander General of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mathew Ewah, warned against drug abuse, describing it as a “social problem” that turns many youths into social misfits, affecting families and communities.

Assistant Superintendent Kabiru Zakari of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) addressed the dangers of pipeline vandalism, noting the health hazards, destruction of farmlands, and weakened agriculture resulting from oil spills. He urged youths to serve as community surveillance officers rather than tools of destruction.

Earlier, CONYSSA Director General, Ade Mario Emmanuel, emphasized the pivotal role of youths in shaping Nigeria’s future and urged unity in the fight against pipeline vandalism, cultism, and economic sabotage. “All of us must get into the fight for a greater country,” he said.