Lawyer calls for introduction of anti-cyber crime depts in schools

A Lagos-based constitutional lawyer, Spurgeon Ataene, on Saturday called for the introduction of Anti-cyber Crime Departments in schools as part of efforts to combat cyber-offences in the society.

Ataene said that internet fraud "has now become a norm, especially among the youth" in the society.

He said the setting up of anti-cyber crime departments in institutions of learning with the mandate of giving early orientation to teenagers on the ills of internet crime would help tackle such activities.

"Cybercrime is a direct result of the decadence in the society and the school system is a quagmire of its original self.

"For instance, the Academic Staff Union of Universities' (ASUU's) industrial action has kept students at home for more than three months with nothing for them to do.

"The idleness caused by this has given birth to multiple crimes than you can imagine.

"So, it seems we are the ones pressing the self-destruct buttons.

"Internet technology has accentuated the decadence, and parents in a bid to join the bandwagon, do not carefully determine the appropriate age when their children should be gifted with smart phones," he said.

The lawyer added that the nation "is at a cross road now".

"In all localities, government should establish monitoring groups, which will be saddled with the responsibility of awakening moral consciousness.

"Their main task will be to engage the youths in the neighbourhood in meaningful orientation periodically.

"They are mandated to have names of youths from 16 years to 35 years of age in their domains, know where they live, and what they do for a living, instead of waiting for crimes to breed," he said

The lawyer also suggested that for crimes that have already blossomed, there should be a deliberate policy to create agencies to curb their spread.