The Nigeria Police Force has launched a nationwide online awareness campaign aimed at combating cybercrime and promoting responsible internet use among Nigerians.
The initiative, organised by the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC), is a month-long campaign focused on online safety and cyber hygiene.
The campaign, tagged “Real Odogwu No Dey Hide Face,” is designed to educate the public on the growing threats of cybercrime and encourage Nigerians to remain vigilant while using digital platforms.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Abuja, the Director of NPF-NCCC, Ifeanyi Uche Henry, said the campaign became necessary due to the increasing cases of cyber-related crimes affecting citizens.
According to him, crimes such as identity theft, romance scams, Business Email Compromise (BEC), sextortion and phishing have continued to pose serious threats to individuals and organisations.
Henry noted that many of the attacks succeed because of low awareness among internet users, stressing the need for Nigerians to adopt safer online practices to protect their digital identities.
He also warned individuals involved in cybercrime to desist, noting that the centre’s Cyberhawk teams are using advanced digital tracking tools to identify and prosecute offenders.
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, commended the support of the UK National Crime Agency and the City of London Police, noting that international collaboration remains vital in tackling cybercrime.
The police urged Nigerians to remain cyber-aware by verifying information online, protecting their devices and safeguarding sensitive financial details such as ATM PINs, one-time passwords and Bank Verification Numbers.
Citizens were also advised to adopt strong passwords, enable multi-factor authentication, avoid suspicious links or messages, and use secure channels when sharing sensitive information online.