Poor parenting fuels youths’ involvement in financial crimes – EFCC chair

The head of Nigeria’s anti-graft agency on Friday blamed parenting failures and family neglect for rising youth involvement in financial crimes, urging a broader social response to tackle the problem.

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman Ola Olukoyede told an audience at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College in Kaduna that many young offenders cited inadequate family support as a factor in turning to internet fraud.

“Family neglect impacts dire consequences on the lives of young people, including increased exposure and vulnerability to financial and economic crimes,” Olukoyede said in remarks delivered by a senior official. “By addressing the root causes of family neglect and providing support services, education and job opportunities, we will be working towards reducing youth involvement.”

He said dysfunction in the home could stem from poverty, ignorance, addiction or abdication of responsibility, and called for support systems, mentorship and sports programmes to provide alternatives for young Nigerians.

Olukoyede noted that some students arrested for cybercrime admitted they turned to fraud to finance their education, but praised the government’s Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFund) for offering legal financial support. The N50 billion seed capital for the scheme came from proceeds of crime recovered by the EFCC, he added.

The EFCC has launched several preventive initiatives, including Integrity Clubs in schools and an annual National Cybercrime Summit, aimed at discouraging young people from internet fraud.

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