Health and Safety
CYBERCRIME: Be More Disciplined and Mindful In Your Choice of Words, Police Cautions Journalists
…Says Words are sometimes sharper than Swords
The National Cybercrime Centre – Nigeria Police Force has stressed that the word is sometimes sharper than the sword and warned journalists to be more disciplined and mindful in their choice of words online.
The Acting Assistant Director of the Cybercrime Centre, SP Abubakar Smart, advised at a cybercrime workshop organised for journalists by the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) on Thursday at the International Maritime Press Centre, Apapa, Lagos.
Smart stressed that the pen could be sharper than the knife and therefore warned that journalists should ensure that whatever they push out online would not get them in trouble.
“What strikes the mind of people when we talk of cybercrime is internet fraud but it is more than that.
“Today, it has become a global threat due to the way we use 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,” he said.
Smart described cybercrime as any criminal activity done in cyberspace on any social media platform.
He 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 N10 million and asset forfeiture.
“We should be aware of regulatory agencies responsible for ensuring the cyberspace is free.
“Some of them are the National Cybercrime Commission, Central Bank of Nigeria, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,” he said.
In his paper presentation, Dr Layinka Adagun, a veteran journalist and 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 run foul of the cybercrime law.
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.
He said that cybercrime could be avoided, reduced or eliminated through a combination of individual awareness, organisational measures and technological solutions.
“Some strategies are: to educate ourselves on cybercrime, use strong passwords, be cautious with links and attachments, keep software up-to-date, and implement cyber security policies,” he said
Health and Safety
SON, NAFDAC Reiterate Warning Against Substandard, Fake Products In Nigerian Markets
The Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) have warned producers and suppliers against flooding the nation’s markets with substandard and fake products.
The Director General of SON, Dr Ifeanyi Okereke, at a one-day Stakeholders workshop tagged “Growing Businesses Through Standardisation” in Abakaliki, on Wednesday, said substandard items were not good for a growing economy.
Okereke was represented by Mrs Talutu Athan, Director, Cooperate Affairs Department of SON.
He said the workshop was aimed at strengthening and deepening stakeholders’ operators’ knowledge, understanding and co-operation with the organisation concerning standardisation activities for growing businesses.
He noted that standards adherence and compliance remained a major way to attain economic and industrial growth.
“Today’s economic reputation is as important as Customers want to know, not only what you produce, but how.
“For our goods to reach the premium market beyond our borders, they must reach established benchmarks. These benchmarks are not created to exclude it frustrate producers.
“SON is committed to fighting against substandard goods. This is because when one trader floods the market with fake or inferior products, the reputation of genuine producers is also damaged.
“We cannot do it alone; we need your support. We need your partnership with stakeholders like you.
“Standards are not rules from above; they are building blocks for resilience and growth. They give you an edge in a crowded marketplace. They protect your investments. They turn hard work into lasting success.
“SON has toll-free lines that one can contact in terms of substandard goods. These are 08099937380, 07056990099,” the Director General said.
Also speaking, Mr Emeka Orajaka, Coordinator of NAFDAC in Ebonyi, said he was committed to fighting against fake and inferior products in the markets.
Orajaka, however, pledged support to SON to get rid of substandard goods across the markets in the country.
He urged producers and suppliers to embrace the campaign against fake products and ensure that their products are certified before taking them to the market.
A Resource Pearson, Mr Lawal Ayanda, who spoke on a topic, “Growing Businesses Through Standardisation”, said the importance of using made in Nigeria goods, especially cables and wires, could not be over-emphasised.
Ayanda described a made-in-Nigeria cable as the best due to its resistance to fire.
Nigeria cables are flame retardant. They are resistant to fire. All Nigerian cables have SON logos,” he stated.
Mrs Maryrose Ugwueche, State Coordinator of SON in Ebony, thanked all the stakeholders for their activities in the state.
The other stakeholders at the workshop included the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria Immigration Services (NIS), among others.
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have neutralised a notorious ISWAP terrorist commander, Malam Jidda, along with scores of his fighters in a coordinated air and ground operation in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe and the Timbuktu Triangle in Borno.
This is contained in a statement issued in Maiduguri on Tuesday by Capt. Reuben Kovangiya, Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Headquarters Theatre Command, Operation Hadin Kai.
According to the statement, the operation was launched on June 9 in Ngazalgana area of Gujba LGA, with close air support from the Air Component of OPHK.
“Malam Jidda, who was identified as the Ameer of Ngorgore and Malumti villages, met his end during a fierce engagement with troops, who overpowered the terrorists with superior firepower,” the statement said.
The statement noted that some terrorists escaped with gunshot wounds, while others were neutralised during a follow-up encounter in the Timbuktu Triangle, where troops conducted a snap ambush operation.
“In the course of continued exploitation in the Mallamfatori general area of Abadam LGA, where recent offensives had been recorded, troops discovered more bodies of neutralised terrorists and recovered an array of arms and equipment,” it added.
It listed recovered items to include: AK-47 rifles, motorcycles, rocket-propelled gun tubes, magazines, large quantities of ammunition, hand grenades, hand-held radios, and other logistical items.
The army spokesman noted that the renewed offensive underlines the effectiveness of the ongoing counter-insurgency efforts by Operation Hadin Kai, supported by precise and timely air strikes.
He reaffirmed the Theatre Command’s commitment to completely defeating Boko Haram/ISWAP insurgents and the restoration of peace and security in the North-East.
Health and Safety
Kogi Police Confirm Death Of Retired Major In Abductors Den, Even After N10m Ransom
The Kogi Police Command has confirmed the death of a retired Army Major, Joe Ajayi, at the hands of his abductors, even after the payment of N10 million ransom by his family for his release.
SP Williams Ovye-Aya, the spokesman of the command, confirmed this to the NewsMen on Monday in Lokoja.
The reporter reports that Ajayi, 76, was kidnapped from his residence in Odo-Ape, Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi on May 21.
Ovye-Aya said that the remains of the deceased retired army officer had been recovered and deposited at the Kabba Specialist Hospital mortuary, according to the Bunu Leaders Forum.
He, however, assured that the command would leave no stone unturned in unravelling those behind the dastardly act and arrest them as well as make them face the wrath of the law.
Similarly, the Chairman and Secretary of Bunu Leaders Forum, Prof. Olu Obafemi and Dr Ade Abanida, respectively, also confirmed the incident.
According to them, the kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of N50 million, which the family could not pay, as a result, the deceased’s health deteriorated due to a lack of medication.
“The kidnappers later reduced the ransom to N10 million after discovering that his condition was critical.
“The family, who reportedly thought that he was still alive, quickly agreed and paid the ransom to the kidnappers.
“Thereafter, the kidnappers directed the family to where they could find him, but shockingly, they only found his lifeless body.”
Meanwhile, the Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Sen. Sunday Karimi, has described the killing of the retired army officer as a “very unfortunate and sad development”.
Karimi, in a statement issued in Lokoja, lamented the insecurity situation in the district.
According to him, the whole of Kogi West is now under siege in the hands of kidnappers, with people afraid to leave their houses.
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