SP Abubakar Smart, Acting Assistant Director, Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre has advised Nigerian journalists to be disciplined and mindful of their choice of words in their reportage to avoid Cybercrime via cyberbullying.
The Police egghead, Smart, was speaking during a cybercrime workshop organised for journalists by the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) on Thursday in Lagos.
His words: “What strikes the mind of people when we talk of cybercrime is internet fraud but it is more then that. Today, it has become a global threat due to the way we use the digital technology, the nature of our work and the way we interact online.
“Journalists need to be well-informed about the Cybercrime Act of 2015, as amended, to be more educated about cybercrime so as not to fall victim.”
Smart described cybercrime as any criminal activities done on the cyber space in any social media platforms and listed them to include bullying, stalking, fraud, identity theft and phishing.
“The punishment for cybercrime can be up to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to millions of naira, asset forfeiture. We should be aware of regulatory agencies responsible for ensuring the cyber space is free. Some are National Cybercrime Commission, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),” he said.
Earlier in his lecture, Dr. Layinka Adagun, a Mass Communication Lecturer at Lagos State Polytechnic urged journalists not to be desperate to be superstars.
He said that the zeal to confirm exclusive stories and the persistence to get information first could make some media persons become bullies.
Adagun said that some media professionals had a misconception that their daily activities, particularly intellectual outputs were removed from internet governance.
“The internet has become a global tool for everything including a channel for freedom of expression but sadly, the freedom that the internet depicts is now being attacked and users intimidated. We all need to safeguard our access and activities on the electronic highway”, he said.
Adagun stressed the need for awareness, organisational measures and technological solutions, even as he encouraged journalists to educate themselves on cybercrime, use strong passwords, be cautious with links and attachments, keep software up-to-date, and implement cyber security policies, among others.
