Featured
Crime Ambassadors Of Nigeria (CAN)
In a country where many citizens are obsessed with titles to enhance their social standing, a new tag – the Crime Ambassador of Nigeria (CAN) is fast recommending itself for conferment on Nigerians who have drawn international attention and opprobrium to the country, with respect to their involvement in trans-border crimes. And it would seem that the time has come for the formal conferment of such a title starting with deserving Nigerians like those 79 recent suspects of cybercrime in the US currently facing charges in that country’s courts over charges of swindling individuals, companies, charities as well as even churches of millions of dollars, with which they come back to Nigeria to live big without as much as a whimper from their communities over how they suddenly became super rich. According to some posts currently trending on the social media, many of these profiled individuals are seemingly ordinary Nigerian good time folks and regular toasts of their kith and kin as well as social circles.
Interestingly, such miscreants have been with us for a long time since the days when electronic processes in banking commenced around the world in the early nineties. Until then, banking fraud was restricted to local institutions as operations were manual and hardly would any untoward development spread beyond the gates of the bank. With the growth of electronic banking in the nineties, banking operations between individual banks and branches were progressively being synchronized as exchange of banking information, which traditionally were locally subjected to strict confidentiality, became increasingly facilitated with greater ease. But this transition came with a dark side as the bad eggs in the banks found it easier to falsify the now machine readable information, and exploit the system in collaboration with outside scammers. Hence, as the ease of transactions grew, so the liberty to swindle the system also expanded.
Older Nigerians will easily recall the days of ‘419’ in the early nineties when the swindling of foreigners by Nigerian ‘smart alecs’ was rampant with not a few of the culprits, making huge fortunes from the illicit activity and built financial empires that survive till today. They were named ‘419ers’ after Section 419 of Nigeria’s Criminal Code which deals with the crime of obtaining favours through deceit. However, if compared with the earlier day ‘419ers’, the present day fraudsters are light years ahead. The similarities between the two generations of fraudsters if any, go beyond the ways and means of operation. While the older generation depended on the now archaic fax machines that transmitted only data across telephone networks, the new age operators use the much faster and more efficient computer and internet.
Although the focus may be on Nigerians today, participation in internet fraud activities is not confined to Nigerians. The scourge of internet fraud is already a pandemic in the advanced countries where the exercise accounts for global losses estimated at $3 billion annually. Some may therefore be even inclined to see the participation of Nigerians as a mere scratch on the surface.
However, for this country, the increasing involvement of Nigerians in cybercrime especially on the international scale is more than the diplomatic scenario of poor representation of the country abroad by the culprits. In a more profound context, it imposes a negative value system on the growing and impressionable youth as it reinforces the mindset that easy money from crime is the way to go. When the fraudsters succeed in coming home with stashes of cash and spread same in a poverty ridden environment, it becomes difficult to preach any other sermon that runs on the dignity of hard work. The impact of such a syndrome is already incalculable in the Nigerian society as it accounts for the current apocalyptic escalation in crimes such as armed robbery, kidnapping and the ‘yahoo yahoo’ range of rituals-based, nefarious activities.
Today, the Nigerian society lies prostrate before the scourge of kidnapping for ransom, which has turned into a most lucrative business enterprise across the country. All categories of nationals are kidnapped daily for ransom with victims securing their release on the payment of various sums of money and occasionally with items in kind including food stuff and for ladies, sexual favours. The explosion in the crime of kidnapping in Nigeria has proved to outmatch the capacity of the security forces as even their personnel are not spared as victims.
Meanwhile, as the recent case of one Hamisu Wadume, the alleged kidnapper from Taraba State is revealing, the seemingly intractable nature of kidnapping and other heinous crimes in the country, enjoy in many cases the active collaboration of the very security operatives on whom the task of caging the culprits, rests. Wadume was reportedly earlier arrested in Ibi town in Taraba State, in the course of investigations into serial kidnapping cases by some crack police detectives. He was being conveyed to the Police base when soldiers – apparently acting in league with the suspect attacked the police officers, and killed some of them as well as injuring others.
Revelations from the ongoing investigations in the Wadume case clearly point to a wider malady of insider conspiracies between the wave of crimes and the criminals as well components of the security apparatus. It would therefore seem that the country’s fight against violent crimes needs to be targeted at discouraging the lure of easy money among the youths. And the earlier this is done, the better, as the lure to join the ranks of the CANs, is not growing.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that peace has prevailed because he draws strength from God to resist insults and tantrums thrown at him while frustrating attempts by some disgruntled persons who wanted to plunge the State into unending crisis.
The Governor also said that because he has anchored his Government on promoting peace, the enabling atmosphere has been provided for investments and sustainable development to flourish.
Governor Fubara made the assertion when he received a delegation of members of the Bishops and Gospel Ministers’ Association International Incorporated, Rivers State Chapter, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Represented by the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke, Governor Fubara said while most people took his meekness for weakness, his stance on peace has unarguably enhanced harmonious atmosphere of concord as residents sleep with their two eyes closed, and investors and shareholders are happy with the returns on investment.
He said, “Before, what they hear of Rivers State is that they are fighting, and some genuine investors will not come. Some people even ask you: How are you coping in Rivers State?
“But now”, he asserted: “The Governor has brought about a lot of changes in the State. One of the most important things is that he has changed the negative narrative. It is no longer Rivers of blood. It is now Rivers of peace.
“We are enjoying our lives here. Why? Because there is a change in the narrative. We have peace. The Governor is, as much as possible, absorbing any level of insult at him only for one purpose: that Rivers State may have peace; that we may grow; that this state will experience genuine development.”
Governor Fubara urged them, as members of the Christian family in the State, to continue to pray for the State and the Government so that the enemies of the State will be put to greater shame.
“This peace is what I want you to embrace. Go and continue to pray, because when the sower of the seed went and sowed, the enemy went in the night and sowed tares inside there. But the Governor is sowing peace.
“When I listened to the leader of the team, His Grace Eddy Ogbonda, he said you came all the way from Eleme Junction, and stopped at major junctions, and you uttered prayers for the peace of Rivers State.”
He also said: “I, hereby want to thank you for identifying with the Governor at a time like this. At a time when it looks as if someone wants the Governor’s peace posture misunderstood as weakness.
“When someone has the strength to fight back, but refuses to fight back. That is a bigger strength; that power of restrain does not just come, it can only come from God.
“You cannot give peace, if you do not have peace within you. The Governor is not interested in any form of trouble or violence. What he is interested in is known, and it is: let there be peace in Rivers State,” he said.
In his address, leader of the group, Archbishop Eddy Ogbonda, said they had observed a week-long intensive prayers that culminated into a peace rally, which brought them to Government House, and assured the Governor that God will continue to give him victory over his adversaries while preserving Rivers State.
“It is Rivers State Prophetic Prayer Convocation and Rally 2024 with the theme: ‘Peace be still’. Of a truth, everyone of us understands that we live in a time when we need peace much more than any other thing.
“Rivers State needs peace. Everyone as individuals need peace. The country needs peace, and the world at large needs peace. So, we are here to do a peace march. We pray that God will command His peace to reign in Rivers State,” he said.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has stated that hotels, schools, and other establishments that accept payments in dollars from their customers are at risk of facing arrest.
The Chairman of EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, said this in the agency’s publication called EFCC Alert on Monday, adding that action would be taken against individuals involved in the dollarisation of the economy.
According to him, the exception is if foreigners come in to transact business and the only means of transacting is their credit card and dollar but to charge local customers in dollars or other foreign currencies would no longer be allowed.
He said charging local activities and customers in dollars is against Nigeria’s constitution.
The EFCC chairman said, “Schools that charge Nigerians in dollar, supermarkets that trade in dollar, estate developers that sell their property in dollar, hotels that are invoicing in dollar, we are coming after you and we have made arrests in that area.
“Yes, if foreigners are coming in and the only means of transacting is their credit card, and dollar, why not? You will get that.
“But document it properly as against selling things within the system, local economy and you will be using dollar as the medium of exchange, it is illegal.
“Our law does not allow for that. And we have also affected some arrests.”
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has enjoined Muslim faithful to remain steadfast to the lessons learnt during the holy month of Ramadan.
Governor Fubara stated this in his message of felicitations to Muslims as they celebrate the 2024 Eid-el-Fitr Sallah, which marks the end of the one-month Ramadan fasting.
The Governor emphasised the importance for Muslims to also uphold the tenets of Islam by exhibiting the fear of God and showing piety in their daily work.
Governor Fubara said, “We must all continue in the good attributes imbibed during the holy month of Ramadan as directed by God through His Prophet, so as to ensure peace, unity and harmony in the society for a better future.”
While praying that the essence of the festival offers them happiness, peace and prosperity in all aspects of life, Governor Fubara said he recognises and appreciates the critical role that the Muslim community continues to play in the development of Rivers State, and indeed, Nigeria at large.
Governor Fubara charged them to remain unwavering and steadfast in their commitment and positive contributions to advance the development of the State and the country.
“I enjoin you all in the State to remain calm, be patient and continue to do what is right,” the Governor added.
He wished the Muslim faithful in the State and across the country a happy Eid-el-Fitr celebration.
-
Business4 days agoElectricity: Bands BCDE Suffer No Power
-
Niger Delta4 days ago
Vet Praises Diri, Predecessor On Functional Hospital
-
Opinion20 hours agoPoverty: Manipulative Tool Of Oppressive Ruling Class
-
Niger Delta16 hours agoA’Ibom Targets 600,000 Households For Intervention Programmes
-
Education4 days ago
SSANU Demands Reinstatement Of Sacked IAUE Staff, Teachers
-
Sports4 days ago
BDGS Wins Secondary Schools Football Tournament In Bayelsa
-
News4 days agoWe’re Working In Line With Tinubu’s Vision On Housing -Fubara
-
Politics20 hours agoRivers Lawmakers’ Defection, ‘Monkey Politics’-CSO
