EFCC, NDLEA Warn Teens Against Cybercrime and Drug Abuse

​PORT HARCOURT — In a stern nationwide warning, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have cautioned teenagers against the perils of internet fraud and illicit substance abuse, urging the younger generation to anchor their ambitions in integrity, discipline, and legitimate enterprise.

​Speaking during a youth sensitization program in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, EFCC Chairman Mr. Ola Olukoyede defined internet fraud as a deceptive exploitation of digital tools for illicit financial gain. Represented by EFCC Superintendent SE Akpos Mezeh-Ekisowei, the anti-graft czar highlighted that cyber offenses manifest through various deceptive schemes, including romance scams, identity theft, cryptocurrency fraud, online shopping scams, social media impersonation, and fake admission offers.

​Olukoyede identified peer pressure, the societal obsession with quick wealth, social media influence, and economic hardship as primary catalysts pulling young people into cybercrime. However, he warned that ignorance will no longer serve as an excuse.

​”Do not fall into peer pressure, and if you do after this sensitization from the EFCC, then you must face the law,” he cautioned.

​Addressing the warped metrics of success prevalent online, the EFCC boss advised teenagers to desist from comparing themselves to individuals displaying ostentatious lifestyles on social media. “Not everyone displaying wealth is successful, and not everyone successful displays wealth,” he noted.

​Detailing the gravity of cyber offenses, Olukoyede outlined the severe legal and personal ramifications, noting that the commission deploys advanced digital forensics, financial intelligence, device analysis, and international law enforcement cooperation to track down perpetrators. He stressed that internet crime leads directly to arrest, prosecution, imprisonment, and the forfeiture of illicit proceeds, alongside permanent damage to personal character and future opportunities.

​The warning extended beyond the individual offender to the broader family structure. Olukoyede emphasized that a reckless decision by a youth can ruin a family name built over decades, casting a shadow over parents and siblings.

​Rather than weaponizing technology for criminal exploits, teenagers were urged to channel their digital dexterity into productive ventures. Olukoyede recommended acquiring high-demand digital skills such as programming, cybersecurity, digital marketing, graphic design, video editing, artificial intelligence, data analysis, and content creation. He underscored that the internet brims with legitimate opportunities capable of yielding substantial local and international income through patience and hard work.

​Reinforcing the anti-crime message, Assistant Commander of Narcotics ACN Ugochukwu Olisaemeka-Iyi, representing the NDLEA, shifted the focus to the devastating intersection of youth delinquency and drug abuse. Tracing substance abuse to cultural factors, family background, and peer influence, she issued a stark warning against experimentation.

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​”A trial might condemn you,” Olisaemeka-Iyi warned, urging the teenagers to reject harmful substances with absolute firmness rather than hesitant refusals. She further encouraged them to cultivate a strong spiritual foundation as a moral compass for excellence.

​Responding on behalf of the participants, Teenagers Ministry Coordinator Godknows Ogbonna expressed profound appreciation to both agencies for the timely intervention, noting that the enlightenment campaign serves as a crucial guide for impressionable minds navigating contemporary societal pressures.