The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ogun command, has cautioned Nigerians against indiscriminate use of social media.

The spokesperson for the NSCDC Ogun command, Dyke Ogbonnaya, disclosed this in an interview with journalists on Friday in Abeokuta.

Mr Ogbonnaya urged Nigerians to desist from exhibiting lifestyles indiscriminately on social media platforms.

He said that this would prevent Nigerians from falling prey to criminalities, especially kidnapping.

Mr Ogbonnaya noted that some Nigerians usually use the platforms to display achievements such as new houses, cars, expensive clothes, watches and fake expensive lifestyles.

“These materials being displayed are clues to criminals,” he said.

He noted that 40 per cent of kidnappings were facilitated through social media interactions.

“These criminals mostly fish their victims through social media platforms using job offers, travelling opportunities and dating sites.

“Facebook and Instagram are the most common platforms used in social media kidnappings,” he said.

Mr Ogbonnaya said that kidnappers had continuously devised new techniques to catch their victims.

He warned Nigerians against greed, adding that it had led many into kidnappers’ dens unexpectedly.

Mr Ogbonnaya, who condemned the high spate of kidnappings and robberies in the country, said NSCDC would continue to work with the police to tackle these menace.

While commending the frantic efforts of all security agencies, he pleaded with Nigerians with useful information on criminal hideouts to hint at any of the agencies.

“The security agencies need the cooperation of Nigerians to win the battle,” he said.

(NAN)