- Safiu Kehinde
No fewer than 10 suspected internet fraudsters, including 12-year-old trainee, have been arrested by operatives of the Lagos State Police Command following raid on an illegal internet fraud training facility, commonly referred to as a “Yahoo School,” operating in the Iju area of the state.
This was diclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Command’s spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin.
According to the statement, the suspects were arrested by Police Detectives following the discovery of the illegal training facility.
Among the arrested suspects are four Yahoo experts who were running the notorious school, namely Chibuike Ihejika, 23; Stanley Ihejika, 22; Obiora Oyediba, 26; and Emmanuel Oyedibe, 25.
The other six (6) suspects are their criminal trainees, all of whom were undergoing training in cybercrime and fraud.
They include Okorie Henry, Otoh Chisom, 20; Okeke Kwufrochikwu, 26; Uchenna Obeji, 26; Chinedu Ukachukwu, 23 and 12-year-old, Minachi Udochukwu.
On their mode of operation, preliminary investigations revealed that the principal suspects of the facility recruited their trainees from Anambra State.
While the trainees were engaged to commit internet fraud and other related crimes, the proceeds from their fraudulent activities were being confiscated by the principal suspects.
All suspects, according to Hundeyin, have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba, for further discreet investigation and prosecution.
Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the sponsors who financed the trainees’ enrollment in the school as well as the owner of the facility where these criminal and illegal activities took place.
The Lagos Police Command warned the owner of the facility to turn himself in immediately at the SCID Panti from wherever he is hiding.
The Command also vowed to ensure that all suspects are charged to court for prosecution upon the conclusion of the investigation into the case.
Meanwhile, the Police disclosed that Ugochukwu, the underage suspect, had healing marks of injuries on his body.
The injuries were allegedly inflicted on him by the main principal suspect to compel him into the commission of the criminal acts.
He has, however, being given medical attention and kept in protective custody till his relatives are identified and reunited with him.
Reacting to the development, the state Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, commended the personnel involved in this operation for their dedication and professionalism that resulted in this success.
He assured all Lagosians that the Command remains resolute and committed to combating all forms of crimes and criminalities, including cybercrime tagged “yahoo,” etc.
Jimoh, however, urged residents to report every suspicious activity or incident to the Police in their localities for prompt police action.