The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kaduna Zonal Directorate has solicited the support of the Kaduna State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on the fight against visa racketeering, cybercrimes and illegal mining in the State.
Mr Bawa Kaltungo, the EFCC acting zonal director, made the plea on Friday during a courtesy visit with his management team to the officials of NUJ Kaduna State Council.
Kaltungo, who was newly posted to the zonal directorate, expressed gratitude to the NUJ members for the support and cooperation given to the union over the years.
He, however, pleaded that the support should be sustained for the good of society.
The EFCC zonal boss disclosed that visa racketeering, cybercrimes and illegal mining were becoming alarming in Kaduna State.
Kaltungo appealed to journalists to enlighten the public on the dangers of engaging in such crimes.
The EFCC director urged journalists in the state to always feel free to balance their stories from the commission to avoid damaging its image and reputation.
He said, “It is part of our routine that whenever a new Zonal Director is appointed, we come on a courtesy visit to our strategic partners, of which NUJ is one of them.
“It is a thank you visit and to ask for more support like Oliver Twist, as the collaboration that exists between NUJ and EFCC cannot be separated.
“So, we are here to say thank you for all that you have been doing
“We want to encourage you that if there is any report that will portray the commission in a bad image, you can reach out to us so that you can have a balanced report.
“You are going to look out for a renewed vigour in the fight against corruption, and this issue of cybercrimes that our youths are indulging in is becoming alarming.”
According to Kaltungo, the commission is devising new strategies to nip these crimes in the bud.
He added, “This I because we don’t want them to spread.”
“This is because, if the youths who are the leaders of tomorrow and today are engaged in corruption, does it mean that corrupt people will be in a position of leadership tomorrow?”
“It means that there will be no development and progress. It is now incumbent on us to nip them in the bud.”
He further disclosed that another trend that was discovered in Kaduna State was the alarming issue of visa racketeering, especially during the lesser Hajj and during the pilgrimage.
Kaltungo said, “You find out that a lot of people had been duped of their hard-earned money in the name of a visa by traveling agents, in the name of international passports and stuff like that.
“So many people had parted with their money without getting value for it and this is alarming in Kaduna State and to worsen it, even married women are involved in it.
“So, we want to use this opportunity to appeal to couples to advise their fellow couples to desist from such acts.
“This is because it is not our wish to go and arrest a married woman, but when she gets herself involved, definitely the law does not say that married men or women have immunity, we will go after them.
“We want to call on the people of Kaduna State and Niger State to make sure that people are not involved in anything that will attract us to them.”
The director also stated that illegal mining activities were now becoming alarming in the state.
He said, “Everybody wants to go into illegal mining and you cannot go into mining without the appropriate documents from the appropriate authorities.”
“Mining is an exclusive preserve of the Federal Government; as such, for any company and individual to go into mining, they must obtain licences from the Federal Ministry of Mining.
“We want to call on the people who are into illegal mining to make sure that they obtain the proper licences.
“This is to avoid incurring the wrath of the commission because by the time we arrest you doing illegal mining, certainly, we will take you to Court.
“We want to thank NUJ for the support and call on it to continue to cooperate with us to enlighten the public about what we do.”
In his response, Mr Abdulgafar Alabelewe, the NUJ council chairman, promised the union’s continued support.
He added, “As media practitioners, we don’t have an option but to support what EFCC is doing.
“This is because, by our training, we are socially responsible to society and also hold public officers accountable to the members of society.
“We have enjoyed a good working relationship with the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of EFCC over the years through the media department.
“I want to assure you that we will continue with this good working relationship with the commission.
“I want to assure you that NUJ’s doors are open and anytime you need our services, we are willing to render them, as you can reach out to us at any time and we will do the needful.”
