The Acting Vice-Chancellor of Kwara State University, Professor Shaykh-Luqman Jimoh, has called on the EFCC to work in synergy with the management of the institution for more efficient ways of curbing cybercrimes among the student body of the institution.
The Acting Vice-Chancellor who led a delegation of stakeholders to the office of the Zonal Commander of the EFCC on Friday, February 23, 2024, spoke against the backdrop of the student unrest, which broke out from the sting operation carried out in Malete community where some students were apprehended.
Professor Jimoh who stated that the institution was ready to work in partnership with the EFCC to wipe out cyber criminality and other related crimes from among its student body noted that the unrest caused by the sting operations could have been mitigated if both parties was on the same page.
While commending the diligence of the commission in the state to stamp out cybercrimes, Professor Jimoh added that the University was ready to actively work with the commission to curb the menace.
The Acting Vice-Chancellor identified that while the University has been proactive, especially with the policy of zero tolerance for all vices, the institution would explore other methods to address the vice.
In his response, the Zonal Commander of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, Micheal Nzekwe, expressed readiness to partner with the Management of the University to eradicate cyber criminality in the institution.
He stated that his commission had been on surveillance of the area for a while, and it had become imperative for them to swop on the area to check the activities of the individuals.
He identified advocacy against cybercrime as a crucial way to check the spate among the student body.
On the delegation to the Zonal Commander of the EFCC was the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Dr. Mary Arinde, who also commended the EFCC for the fight against cybercrime in tertiary institutions.
The Commissioner added that the Ministry would intensify collaboration with all stakeholders to achieve a crime free environment for tertiary education in the state.
Also on the delegation was the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Alhaja Kikelomo Grillo; the Governing Council Chairman of KWASU, Professor AbdulGaniyu Ambali; S.A on Students Affairs, Salami Wasiu Onidugbé; S.A on Drug Abuse, Prevention and Control, Aileru Olamilekan Mukail; and the S.A on Digital Innovations, Ishola Kayode.
Others were the Management staff of KWASU; the Alumni President, Aliyu Uthman Abdulkadir; and, the student union executives of the University.
Meanwhile, the Acting Vice-Chancellor was also at the office of the Zonal Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency to seek better modalities of curb illicit drug use.
There, Professor Shaykh-Luqman Jimoh stressed the importance of collaboration between relevant bodies and stakeholders for effective crime control.
The NDLEA commander in the State who was represented by the Deputy State Commander, Fatima Gambari, said while the agency had not been involved in the recent sting operations in Malete community, reiterated the Agency’s readiness to work with the University in the areas of advocacy and intelligence gathering for more efficient drug crime control in the vicinity of the institution.