The Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Kayode Egbetokun has advised Nigerian youths to stay safe online in order to prevent cybercrimes from affecting them.
He spoke on the topics, ‘The Role of NPF-NCCC in Combating Cyber Crimes’ and ‘The Legal Consequences of Engaging in Cyber Crimes – NPF-NCC’.
The I-G, represented by DSP Augustina Kuru, said that in a world where cybercriminals were constantly evolving and finding new ways to attack, it was important to stay vigilant and protected.
He said one of the most important things to do was to use strong passwords.
Egbetokun also urged that the passwords should be a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, as well as special characters to create a unique and lengthy password that could not be easily predicted.
He added, “Once you are faced with any form of cybercrime attack, do well to save your evidence and then report.
“You can also report to us through a written petition to the Office of the I-G.
“You can also report to the DIG of Police or to the Office of the Inspector-General of Police, Force Criminal Investigations Department.’
The I-G said that another important thing to watch out for were unsolicited emails, adding that receiving emails from an unrecognised company or one that seemed suspicious, the best thing to do was not to click on any links or respond to it.
Earlier, Mr Hakeem Lasisi, Chief Superintendent, Cybercrimes Section of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), spoke on the topic: Cyber-‘Enabled Financial Fraud: Identifying and Avoiding Online Scams; and The Nexus Between Cyber crimes and Money Laundering’.
Lasisi said that law enforcement agencies were not deterred as they were working hard to crack down on money launderers, using decentralised exchanges and other methods to track down and prosecute cybercriminals.
He said as the cat-and-mouse game between cybercriminals and law enforcement agencies continued, anonymity was key for cybercriminals to protect their identities and keep their illicit funds safe.
According to him, law enforcement agencies were determined to stay one step ahead with advanced techniques and determination to track down and prosecute cybercriminals, no matter how sophisticated their methods may be.
Lasisi said the fight against cybercrimes was ongoing, and called for collaboration amongst individuals, organisations, and law enforcement agencies around the world.
“With persistence and determination, we could create a safer, more secure digital world for everyone,” he said.
Earlier, Miriam Alobi, Co-Founder and Executive Director, AAF, said that the workshop was to create cybersecurity awareness for the bright young minds in the cyber space.
Alobi said that in an increasingly interconnected world, understanding the intricacies of the digital realm was not just an advantage, but a necessity.
She thanked the security agencies present and encouraged the participants to be active and share experiences to the outside world.
