Cybercrime: Police rescue 12-year-old trainee, arrest 4 fraudsters in Lagos school

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested four cybercrime suspects in an uncovered illegal hideout known as a “Yahoo School”. The cybercriminals, or Yahoo boys as they are called, were arrested alongside six trainees, which included a 12-year-old child, in the Iju area of the state. 

A Tuesday statement released by the Police Command Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, noted that the principal suspects recruited the trainees from Anambra State, engaged them in internet fraud, and confiscated their earnings.

The four cybercrime suspects, described as Yahoo experts who are running the illegal group with training in cybercrime and fraud, are Chibuike Ihejika, 23; Stanley Ihejika, 22; Obiora Oyediba, 26; and Emmanuel Oyedibe, 25.

The police explained that their investigation revealed that the suspects recruited their trainees from Anambra state and engaged them in several cybercrime-related activities, while the ring leaders confiscated the proceeds from their fraudulent activities. 

The Lagos Police Command noted that among the trainees was an underaged boy identified as Minachi Udochukwu. It noted that the trainee had been provided with medical care after healing marks of injury believed to have been sustained during the training were found on his body.

“In line with due process of the law, the underage suspect among them, Minachi Udochukwu, 12 years old, with healing marks of injuries on his body allegedly inflicted on him by the main principal suspect to compel him into the commission of the criminal acts, is being given medical attention and kept in protective custody till his relatives are identified and reunited with him,” the statement stated.

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Raising caution for the facility owner to turn himself in at the State Criminal Investigation Department, the command further assured that all suspects would be made to face the wrath of the law and charged to court upon the conclusion of its investigations.

While calling on members of the public who had fallen victim to cybercrime activities to report to the SCID, Yaha, the command also warned parents and guardians to monitor the activities of their children and wards to prevent them from being exploited, lured, or compelled into falling into criminal activities.

“The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Olohundare Jimoh, also commends the police personnel involved in this operation for their dedication and professionalism, which resulted in this success. The CP Jimoh assures all Lagosians that the Command remains resolute and committed to combating all crimes and criminalities, including cybercrime tagged ‘Yahoo,’ etc.,” he added.

The CP also urged residents to report every suspicious activity or incident to the police in their localities for prompt action.

Recent fight against cybercrime

Nigerian security agencies have continued to clamp down on suspects across the country in the fight against cybercrime, and in an effort to ensure an internet fraud-free society.

In a recent operation in March by the Gombe Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) it arrested 21 suspected Internet fraudsters in Bauchi State where the suspects were arrested based on credible intelligence on their alleged involvement in Internet-related fraud at Kaure New Government Reservation Area, Bauchi and Awala, Maiduguri Road, Bauchi State.

Items recovered from them at the point of arrest include one BMW and Toyota Camry car, three PlayStation 5, 30 expensive phones, one flat-screen television set, six point-of-sale machines, four iPads, and five laptops. The agency asserted that the suspects would be charged in court as soon as investigations were concluded.