By: TUNDE BOLAJI -MINNA.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has expressed it’s readiness to partner with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the fight against illegal mining and cybercrime in the country.
This assurance was given by the a team from the Kaduna Zonal office who visited the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Niger state councils on Wednesday in Minna, the state capital
The team of the Operatives was led the acting Zonal Director, in charge of Kaduna Zonal Directorate, Bawa Usman who disclosed that illegal miners have been arrested.
According to Kaltungo “the fight against these crimes are not for the EFCC alone because it is too big for us to handle.
“We want Journalists to own the fight too so that together we can all curb the menace and succeed.
“We have apprehended four Chinese nationals and 21 others in Jos, Plateau state alongside thirty three other illegal miners and they will be taken to court very soon.”
Kaltungo, while commending Journalists for being strategic partners in the fight against corruption, also disclosed that, the recent operations on cyber crimes in the state is to curb criminality, adding that “we are seriously dealing with it and we will nip it in the bud”.
He revealed that “cybercriminals have now see Niger state as a safe haven and are rushing here to carry out their activities.
“We have arrested so many internet fraudsters as a result of intelligence gatherings and we want Nigerians to know that the officers who raided the place are not illegal EFCC but are our men”.
In his response, the State Chairman of the NUJ, Comrade Abu Nmodu expressed concerns over the rise of cybercrime in Niger state, saying “it is worrisome and we must move against anything that is bad and seen as threat”.
While assuring the EFCC of the Union’s unflinching support, Nmodu called for collaboration to see that members of the media are trained on best practices in the reportage and dynamics of the Commission’s activities.
