There is no doubt that internet fraud activities have been on the rise in recent times in Lagos, especially after last October’s proscription of the police Special Anti-Robbery Squad.
The activities of the fraudulent personalities, otherwise known as ‘Yahoo boys,’ engaging in these dealings, no doubt, have been generating concern in the society.
The recent concern is the rate at which minors are now inducted to participate in the illicit activities.
Special investigations by our correspondent in a community, Igbo Nla, around Ketu area of Lagos revealed that some parents now sponsor their children’s induction into the fraudulent ‘Yahoo’ business.
For many residents in this community, it is either the illicit yahoo business or nothing else!
Our investigations in this community revealed that parents who are attracted and carried away by the takings from this illegal business now encourage and support their children to engage in the illegal business by providing them laptop computer, internet facilities and even beg the masters in the illicit business, notoriously known as ‘Yahoo boys’ to teach them the tricks of the ‘trade.’
Speaking with our undercover reporter, a yahoo boy, who simply identified himself as T-money, said going to school was no longer anything but a waste of time.
“What will I do with schooling again? As I speak with you, I am well blessed with what will sustain me and I am still hustling. You must be street wise in this life and trust your God that you will make it. As I speak with you, I have parents that are begging me to teach their children about this ‘runs.’ I am not the best in this run, but if I tell you what is trending, you must go for it”, he bragged.
When asked if he could encourage his children to engage in the illicit business later on in life, he said, “I will personally train them. Life is getting more advanced, and they must flow with it. Already like I told you, I have young boys that I trained, and they have been making millions. So, why will I not teach my son? Just wait, baba and watch. I will marry next year and start having my children.”
It was, however, learnt that some parents in the area purchase laptops and internet facilities for their children to enable them to engage in the illicit business ‘successfully.’
A resident of the area, who spoke with our correspondent, Tayo Oluyomi, confirmed that “ a man in number 7 on this street recently bought laptop for his son who is in SS1 to do the work. The man himself was a Yahoo man long ago and he decided to train the child in that way. Apart from him, we have many of them in this area that are encouraging their children to go into ‘Yahoo’. It is not a big deal in this area.”
Another resident, Kazeem also explained that people in the area usually celebrate any ‘Yahoo’ boy that records a ‘breakthrough’ in the illicit business.
“The celebration and hype that follow the breakthrough of ‘Yahoo boys’ in this area is enough to intimidate you. You will see many people trooping out to shout their names and sometimes small party will follow. Some of them will even buy things for their friends and family friends in the area. All these are those things that make lots of youths, and lately parents, to charge and encourage their children to engage in ‘Yahoo’. And when you challenge them, they will tell you government is not helping, so you must find a way to survive,” he said.
Kazeem, however, appealed to stakeholders to intervene and save the lives of the underage that have been inducted into this illicit trade.
Meanwhile a community leader, who did not want his name mentioned, called on police and other law enforcement agencies to consider saving the community and Ketu community at large from the menace of the ‘Yahoo boys.’
According to him, they have taken over everywhere with their activities and this will have some negative effects later.
MINORS AND ‘YAHOO BOY’ AMBITION
Further findings by our correspondent in the area showed that minors in the area now look up to the youths engaged in this illicit trade and are craving to become yahoo boys in the nearest future.
An encounter with a ten-year-old boy confirmed this development.
The minor who is currently in Junior Secondary School, said he would like to be a yahoo boy when he grows up.
He said he’s encouraged by the ‘Yahoo boys’ in the area who have recorded ‘big successes’ in the illicit trade.
“I would like to become a Yahoo boy after my school. Most of our brothers here are yahoo boys and they are fine. I would like to make my own money and help my parents to build good house for them. I have many brothers in this area who will encourage me,” the ten-year-old told our correspondent.
RESIDENTS LAMENT NEGATIVE IMPACT OF YAHOO BOYS’ ACTIVITIES ON COMMUNITY
Some residents of Ketu area have lamented how yahoo boys have practically influenced hike in house rent and household commodities in the area.
At Alapere and Ketu, it was learnt that house owners now prefer to let their apartments to the so-called Yahoo boys rather than to more responsible members of the society.
At Ogunseinde Street, it was gathered that an apartment which was rented for 400,000 last year, is now being offered for 700,000, an amount which the yahoo boys will conveniently afford.
The residents said the influence of the Yahoo boys in the community had also led to the increase in prices of foodstuffs and other commodities.
Alaba Kolawole, who spoke with our correspondent, said, “Yahoo boys have taken over this area. They now dictate prices of house and goods. A house that was rented for 400,000 last year is now N700,000 and these boys will even scamper for it. Even common bread in this area is now expensive because when they come, they buy at higher prices as if they don’t work for money.”
Another resident, Jimoh Jamiu, said, “The landlords themselves prefer to rent their apartment to ‘Yahoo boys’ because they do not negotiate amount given to them on apartment offered them. Apart from this, they do not struggle to pay other maintenance expenses. But this at the same time has deprived people of getting rented houses in this area. An average man cannot afford house rent and some items easily in this area now. It is now Yahoo boys’ time’.”
Speaking on the development, the Lagos State Coordinator of Child Protection Network, Mrs Ronke Oyelakin, implored the law enforcement agencies to stop the initiation of minors into the fraudulent acts.
She also called on parents to do their best to protect the future of their children, who are being swept away into crime with the illicit ‘Yahoo’ business trends.
“This calls for serious concern from all of us. It starts from parents, guardian, government and others. The law enforcers should rise to the occasion and save this children. Likewise, police, EFCC should unleash their operatives on these people. This country must be made clean for all,” she said.
EFCC REACTS
EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwurujen, said, “The commission is not relenting on ridding the society of activities of Yahoo boys. A lot of them have been arrested and prosecuted and we are still doing more. We implore the society to work with EFCC to ensure internet fraud is curtailed by reporting issues like this when necessary.”
ADELEKE ADESANYA
ADELEKE ADESANYA
ADELEKE ADESANYA is an Assistant Editor with FirstNews. He is a journalist with vast experience garnered from the coverage of various beats on the job for over a decade. He has worked with various reputable media outfits both locally and internationally. He is also a specialist in handling investigative stories to unravel oddities in the society.
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Lagos CP engages DPOs, policemen in weapon, combat training
by FirstNews May 18, 2021 Reading Time: 1min read
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Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu
Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Hakeem Odumosu, has organised arms and combat training for the 110 Divisional Police Officers and policemen in Lagos State.
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The training, which will last for another one month, commenced in April, 2021 and has a manual designed to inject new ideas into the officers and men of the command on weapon handling, musketry, Baton and Rifle Exercise (BARE), combat operations, individual manoeuvre and range practice.
A statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Muyiwa Adejobi, said the Commissioner of Police has promised to regularly organise training and retraining of officers and men of the command to bring out the best in them with a view to having better security system in Lagos State.
Odumosu revealed that a similar training is being carried out simultaneously for the rank and file cadre of the command, in batches, in order to be in tune with the re-designed Standard Operating Procedure of the Nigeria Police Force.
While admonishing the officers and men in the command to embrace this initiative and be committed to the new policing agenda of the Inspector-General of Police so as to maintain good service delivery in the state, Odumosu promised to pull all available resources together for the betterment of officers and men and the entire workforce of the command in Lagos State.
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