He further clarified: “But I did not call six out of ten Nigerian students criminals. No, I would not have done that. What I said was: based on the intelligence we gathered, for every ten students that we investigated, we discovered that six were found culpable. Yes, the record is there.” The EFCC Chairman expressed concern about the long-term consequences of incarcerating young offenders and questioned whether prison would truly solve the problem or create more challenges in the future. This concern has prompted the commission to explore alternative solutions, including collaboration with the government to design rehabilitation and empowerment programmes for at-risk youth.
Olukoyede emphasized that the EFCC’s mission is not to target young people but to foster a society rooted in honesty and accountability. He believes that providing better opportunities and support systems can steer young Nigerians away from criminal activities. The commission is committed to working with educational institutions and policymakers to address the root causes of youth involvement in cybercrime. As Nigeria continues to grapple with digital fraud and economic insecurity, the EFCC’s approach reflects a growing recognition that prevention and rehabilitation must go hand in hand with enforcement. The future of Nigeria’s youth, he said, must be protected through education, opportunity, and justice.
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