Mr. Isa Pantami, Nigeria’s Minister of Communication and Digital Economy. (Credit: Facebook)
By Precious Haruna, Nsukka.
According to a report by Lila’s news, a lady simply identified as Precious Iwuji was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for selling her pictures and Facebook account to cyber criminals.
Another report by The Guardian newspaper dated May 28, 2019, stated that a-40 year old man, Morgan Mohammed, was sentenced to five years in prison for impersonating an officer of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and defrauding victims of N454,000. Other similar reports over the years have been carried and are still being carried by newspapers, this perhaps is no news to any smartphone user who stays abreast with Nigerian news.
What constitutes news on cybercrime has fallen into some sort of routine-cum-rut-cum-ritual in Nigeria. It is dreadfully disappointing that such news is given the minutest of attention and the undertones often die alongside the story.
READ : Police arrest man who impersonates Nigerian Naval officer for financial fraud
While Precious’ arrest may seem normal to a causal reader, it may however interest one to know that a lot of Nigerian undergraduates battle with the urge or more correctly, the pressure to venture into this “lucrative business.” I have had the privilege to hold conversations with some students of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka on the subject of discourse and a good number of them affirmed that they have been approached by internet fraudsters to sell their social media handle(s), photos and impersonate certain individuals for a “piece of the cake”. A source who pleaded anonymity from the said university revealed that her boyfriend has asked her on several occasions to sell her Facebook account to his friend for a mouth watering fee. He has also asked her to take WhatsApp calls as an impersonator for his friend. She has however refused both offers due to her stance on life issues and the morals she holds dear.
Other students and youths who aren’t brave enough to say no to such temptations for various reasons best known to them, continue to engage in the thriving business.
Now, it would be easier to place a sweeping gag on these individuals and talk them down but perhaps it is high time we looked at this issue squarely and call a spade a spade. While the youths may engage in these acts for various personal reasons it is expedient to note that a whole lot of external factors also drive them into what they view as a safe haven.
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So, instead of pointing fingers at the government, the youth or even their victims, Nigerians need to proffer viable solutions to this problems. We need to help each other and learn to unlearn what we learnt growing up. One bad egg has the capacity to soil our reputation as youths and drastically reduce our opportunities in the global market as was seen in the hushpuppi saga.
The aftermath of hushpuppi’s arrest and subsequent imprisonment has worsened the level of distrust expatriates have for Nigerians. This is a blot on well-meaning Nigerians who are in business and without doubt the Nigerian economy, hence, the need to reiterate the role every individual has to play to curb this menace. Seminars, webinars and workshops have to be staged to orientate and re-orientate individuals who are part of these acts or those seeking to be a part of it to desist from such. Small scale and medium scale businesses should be encouraged until it spurs Foreign Direct Investments. Furthermore, artisans and ‘nameless’ skilled individuals should be given the avenue and needed resources to empower themselves and others as well.
The onus is on every Nigerian to stop this “thriving business.”
Haruna, Precious Ikilama, is a 300L student of the Department of Mass Communication, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
