The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recently announced arresting 89 suspected cybercriminals in a nightclub. However, it had led to a backlash from the public.
Cybercrime is a major activity in Nigeria and law enforcers seem on an almost personal path to eradicating the menace. But it looks like they are going about a rather commendable activity in the wrong way.
Some common means of carrying out these activities among the supposed ‘Yahoo Boys’ are fraudulent electronic mails, identity theft, hacking, cyber harassment, spamming, Automated Teller Machine spoofing, piracy and phishing.
On Monday, 20th January 2020, the official EFCC handle posted about the arrest:
EFCC Arrests 89 ‘Yahoo-Boys’ in Ibadan Night Club
The EFCC Ibadan zonal office, at the weekend, arrested 89 suspected internet fraudsters at the popular Club 360 located on the Akala Expressway, Oluyole Extension in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.#SayNoToCorruption pic.twitter.com/kEHj4lmEQJ
— EFCC Nigeria (@officialEFCC) January 20, 2020
Reactions showed, however, that the action was rather a high-handed approach that bordered on abuse of power. People have thus come out to condemn the act and demand the freedom of the arrested men. One of the most popular people to give voice to this outcry is Sega, an activist, who said on his Twitter page:
Nigeria will not remain a failed state and all rogue forces will pay for their crimes against humanity. Just so they can say you are working you are illegally raiding places and tagging people fraud? If this were legal why destroy their security cameras & rob them of their money? https://t.co/aHwBTfDwNk
— SEGA L’éveilleur®🚨 (@segalink) January 20, 2020
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This also comes after citizens of the country have been calling for the eradication of the SARS department of the police.
In recent years, tech workers like programmers, data analysts and writers have complained that they cannot move around with their PCs or even smartphones anymore without fear of being arrested and made to pay by the feared police arm.
Now, the arrest of 89 suspected cybercriminals who likely were just men hanging out in a club at night has resurrected the voice of the persecuted again. Although the EFCC had explained that they had reasons for initiating the arrest, it posted:
In preparation for the late night operation, officers of the commission had carried out series of discreet surveillance on the nature of activities going on in the nightclub which, according to intelligence, was notorious for harboring suspected internet fraudsters.
— EFCC Nigeria (@officialEFCC) January 20, 2020
People still believe the enforcement agents are misusing their power and not really curbing cybercrime. Thus, they need to do more tracking of online activity and not random raids.
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