Police arrest suspected internet fraudsters at ‘yahoo training school’ in Lagos

The Lagos police command says operatives uncovered and dismantled an internet fraud training facility, referred to as ‘Yahoo School’, in the Iju area of the state.

A ‘yahoo boy’ is Nigerian coinage for an internet fraudster or scammer. It was contrived in the early 2000s when tech company Yahoo dominated the search engine and email space.

In a statement, Benjamin Hundeyin, the Lagos police spokesperson, said four “yahoo experts and six trainees” were apprehended.

“During the successful operations, the police detectives apprehended four Yahoo experts, between the ages of 22, 23, 25 and 26 who were running the notorious school,” Hundeyin said. 

“The other six suspects between the ages of 12 and 26 are their criminal trainees, all of whom were undergoing training in cybercrime and fraud.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the principal suspects of the facility recruited their trainees from Anambra, engaged them to commit internet fraud and other related crimes.

“The proceeds from their fraudulent activities were being confiscated by the principal suspects.”

Hundeyin added that the suspects have been transferred to the state criminal investigation department (SCID) in Yaba for further investigation and prosecution.

He added that efforts were on to apprehend other accomplices.

“Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the sponsors who financed the trainees’ enrolment in the school, as well as the owner of the facility where these criminal and illegal activities took place,” Hundeyin said.

“The owner of the facility is hereby warned, in his own interest, to turn himself in immediately at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba from wherever he is hiding.”

Hundeyin assured that the suspects will be charged to court for prosecution once investigations were concluded.

He detailed that the 12-year-old among them bore marks of injuries and was receiving medical care.

“In line with due process of the law, the underage suspect with injuries allegedly inflicted on him by the main principal suspect to compel him into the commission of the criminal acts is being given medical attention,” the statement reads. 

“He is kept in protective custody till his relatives are identified and reunited with him.”

The spokesperson advised parents and guardians to monitor the activities of their children and wards to prevent them from being exploited, lured or compelled into criminal activities.

He encouraged persons who are victims of the fraudulent activities of the criminal syndicate to report same at the SCID.

Hundeyin said Olohundare Jimoh, the state’s commissioner of police, praised the officers for apprehending the suspects.

“The CP commends the police personnel on the success of the operation and assures Lagos residents of the command’s resolution and commitment to combating all forms of crimes and criminalities, including cybercrime (yahoo),” Hundeyin said.

Hundeyin added that the CP urged residents to report suspicious activities to the police for prompt action.