- Safiu Kehinde
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has on Thursday raided an internet fraud (Yahoo) academy, arresting 31 suspected internet fraudsters in a sting operation at the facility situated in Becki Estate, Karu area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
This was disclosed in a statement issued on the EFCC’s official X handle.
According to the statement, the suspects, comprising two kingpins and interns, were nabbed while undergoing internet fraud tutorials.
Items recovered from them include phones, 18 laptop computers and other gadgets.
Meanwhile, preliminary investigation revealed that some of the interns were lured into the crime and placed under harsh conditions on arrival at the facility including the restriction of their movement and physical assault.
“Investigation by the EFCC revealed that some of the interns were lured all the way from Benue State by the academy proprietors with the promise of job offers, but upon settling down at the facility, were handed communication devices, computers and software, setting the stage for their training in cyber fraud.
“To enforce compliance and dedication, the proprietors house the recruits in the academy and restrict their movements strictly within the perimeters of the facility and forcibly took possession of their mobile phones, thus totally cutting them off from the outside world.
“Furthermore, corporal punishment was the order of the day, with heavy-handed physical assault meted out to interns who were seen to be recalcitrant.” The statement partly read.
The EFCC vowed to charge the suspects to court as soon as investigations are concluded.