The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC), has inaugurated an online safety and cyber-hygiene awareness campaign titled “Real Odogwu No Dey Hide Him Face.”

Speaking during the inauguration in Abuja on Friday, the Director of the centre, CP Ifeanyi Uche, said that the initiative was developed in collaboration with the UK National Crime Agency.

According to him, it is aimed at discouraging Nigerian youths from engaging in cybercrime by exposing the dangers and legal consequences behind the perceived glamour of online fraud.

Mr Uche said that cyber threats were rapidly evolving and increasingly affecting individuals, businesses and government institutions across the country.

He said that cyber offences such as identity theft, romance scams, phishing, business email compromise, sextortion and online harassment continued to rise, largely because many Nigerians lacked basic knowledge of cybersecurity practices.

“Sustained public awareness and education remain the most effective ways to protect citizens from falling victim to online fraud,” he said.

Explaining the theme of the campaign, Mr Uche said that the message behind “Real Odogwu No Dey Hide Him Face” was to promote responsible digital behaviour while discouraging young people from engaging in cybercrime.

“The message is simple: the real Odogwu does not hide behind a screen to defraud others,” he said.

He urged Nigerians to safeguard their personal information by using strong passwords, enabling multi-factor authentication, avoiding suspicious links and verifying information before sharing it online.

The police chief also advised traders, artisans and entrepreneurs, groups often targeted by cybercriminals, not to disclose banking details to strangers.

He said that individuals who choose to engage in cybercrime risked being traced through their digital footprints, and could face serious legal consequences.

Also speaking, the National Commissioner of the National Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Vincent Olatunji, highlighted the growing financial impact of cyber-related fraud globally.

“In 2025, fraud losses worldwide reached about 25.85 billion dollars, including 3.3 billion dollars from bank fraud, and one billion dollars from Ponzi schemes.

“It also includes about 300 million dollars from investment fraud, and 14.3 billion dollars linked to card fraud.

Mr Olatunji said, “The figures underscore the urgent need for stronger digital awareness and protection of personal data. Cybersecurity has become essential for both national and economic security.”

Meanwhile, the Director-General/CEO of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Abisoye Coker-Odusote, commended the NPF-NCCC for initiating the campaign.

Ms Coker-Odusote, represented by Dora Iroh, said that the programme highlighted the importance of collaboration among institutions working to secure Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.

She said that partnerships such as the one between the NPF-NCCC and NIMC were crucial in promoting public education, strengthening enforcement and building a safer digital environment for Nigerians.

In his remarks, the National President of the National Youth Organisation, Duke Alamboye, stressed the importance of extending the campaign to rural communities.

According to him, cybercrime is no longer limited to urban centres, and awareness efforts must reach young people at the grassroots level.

Similarly, Matt Mountain from the UK National Crime Agency, reaffirmed support for the initiative.

Mr Mountain described the campaign as a strong message directed at Nigerian youths.

He said that the campaign challenged the notion that cybercrime represents success, emphasising that true achievement comes from building legitimate businesses and opportunities.

He also said that the UK National Crime Agency and the British High Commission would continue to support collaboration with Nigerian authorities in efforts to combat cybercrime.

The campaign represents another effort by the Nigeria Police Force and its partners to promote responsible internet use.

It also represents the effort to strengthen cybersecurity awareness and encourage Nigerian youths to channel their digital skills into lawful and productive ventures rather than cybercrime 

(NAN)