The FBI is identifying and publishing Cyber-criminals based on nationality, rather by their individual identity. This is considered deliberate populism and smears the image of nationals, rather than address the individuals involved in the cyber-crime. An example of such is what was recently published yesterday on June 25, 2020 on the FBI Twitter page where it stated thus:

"Help the #FBI find ​six Nigerian nationals wanted for their involvement in ​business​ email ​compromise (BEC) schemes resulting in over $6 ​million in losses. Read more about each defendant at http://ow.ly/97Dk50A9Gk8 and submit tips at http://tips.fbi.gov #Fugit"

Interestingly, on further click on the FBI website (http://ow.ly/97Dk50A9Gk8 there were 79 persons identified from different nationalities across the world. This raises the question as to why the FBI decided to single out a nationality for its sensational publicity on Twitter, instead of mentioning all individuals involved from all nationalities. Is this publicity a deliberate stunt by the FBI to gather clout and build on stereotypes? Isn't this a deliberate impunity on the many citizens who are not criminals, but who are affected by attributing crimes to the nationality. Is the FBI aware that such sensationalized national name calling by a professional body as theirs, affect the opportunities of all other hardworking individuals? Is that what the FBI (in a country that prides itself in promoting opportunities seek to achieve? 

In fact, the people identified as Nigerians were either living oversees or born oversee, with a different nationality from their country of origin.

However, this petition is to call the FBI and the media to approach journalism professionally, avoiding sensationalism and national-stereotyping. Individuals commit crimes, not nations. Hence, we request that FBI, media, and all other agencies involved in Cyber-crime and cross border crimes detection, arrest and publicity apply an appropriate and professional policy approach to publicizing the names of criminals by a 'name to name' basis, with an individual approach, rather than calling them by Nationality to create sensationalized publicity. If Smith Boe committed a crime, call it by his name, do not publicize as 'Norwegian criminal wanted'.

We call on FBI to be more responsible and professional, while we commend and support FBI's efforts at identifying criminals across the world for their evil deeds on other humans. Nothing more, nothing less.

If you believe in this, kindly sign this petition and share!

Signed by:

1. Youths in Motion (YIM)

2. Advocacy Disability Inclusion Initiative (ADII)

3. South West Association of the Deaf (SWAD).

4. Coalition PWDs Group

N.B: If you would like to join the Youths in Motion (YIM) team to work towards a change in FBI and Media Policy on this, kindly send DM to Barr. Timi Olagunju on Twitter @timithelaw or email timithelaw@gmail.com