Cyber crime is one of the crimes regularly committed in Nigeria and this has made the federal government to ensure in every capacity that this virus is being taken adequate care of by introducing the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and other law enforcement agencies to help curtail this 'virus'. However, despite the efforts made by government to curb the problem, it has yielded little results and the situation is deteriorating. This is because the issue of cyber fraud have taken different dimensions, using various communication gadgets as the world gradually move into a "jet age". It becomes pertinent to observe therefore that numerous crimes are committed daily on the internet with Nigerians at the forefront of sending fraudulent and bogus financial proposals all over the world. According to Ultrascan Research Institute, about 95% internet fraudsters are Nigerians, the evolution of fixed wireless facility in Nigeria for instance added another dimension to the cyber crime problem.
Cyber crime brings down a nation and no doubt Nigeria has had its fair share. Economic activities have been crawling as foreign investors are not ready to come to Nigeria because of high number of cyber fraud. The aim of this article is to bring to our(Nigerians) consciences that this cyber fraud is a killer of our reputation both home and abroad. Nigeria is seeking a place in the UN Security Council and this have been supported by some nations while some nations also opposes it, with such scenario at hand then Nigeria is vulnerable to the danger of being deprived of the opportunity to be among the countries that make certain "world decision"; we tend to lose global trust and integrity. It is pertinent to note that globalisation have contributed negatively to cyber crime in Nigeria even to the extent that many analyst now wonder if globalisation is a blessing or curse! Whatever the case may be, with the introduction of mobile phones, e-banking, social networks like Facebook, twitter,BBM, yahoo, etc. Which are used by cyber fraudster should be strictly monitored.
Parental guidance should also be a means of combating this virus, I.e parents should ensure that the gadget used by their children must be used for the purpose of which it was bought, parents should ensure that they give their kids strict rules before handing over any of the aforementioned gadgets to them.
Also, cafe owners have been a means by which this virus has been spreading; most cafe owners collect bribes from cyber fraudsters and allow them access to their equipment which has been zapping to the situation.
No thanks to social impetus like Olu Maintain's "Yahooze" and D'banj "Mobolowon" which have been a drive and footsteep for the contemporaries signifying their style and taste!
All hope are not lost as the EFCC. Have taken a bold step in ensuring that cyber criminals are seriously dealth with. Available records shows that from 2003-2007, about £1b illegal transaction was blocked and in addition, about 97 cyber crimes offences were being handled within the same period. Also, 70 websites that provide cloned services for criminality with the assistance of the IC3 Complaints Centre in the United States. Apparently, if these steps continues, Nigeria will be no safe place for cyber criminals!

Play your role in kicking out cyberfraud from our country! It might just be you who's next! Report any "Yahoo boy" to the agencies!

Freeman David Ph.d. - 07069186181.