Danger Ahead! EFCC Says Yahoo Boys Now into Rituals
Ola Olukoyede, the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has raised the alarm to the effect that Yahoo boys are now into ritual killings and banditry.
Speaking on Thursday while receiving the management of The PUNCH at the commission’s corporate headquarters in Abuja, Ola Olukoyede asserted that internet fraud had cost the nation over $500m in one year.
“We are doing the work. Last year alone, we had over 11,000 petitions, investigated close to 9,000, and prosecuted nearly 5,000 cases despite our limited manpower. Some people criticise us for going after Yahoo Yahoo boys, but they don’t understand the severity of the crime.
“It is no longer just about scamming people. They are now into kidnapping, banditry, and ritual killings. Some of our investigations have uncovered horrifying details, including cases where young female victims were used for rituals. If we don’t act decisively, in the next 10 years, we may not have a generation we can confidently hand over this country to,” said Olukoyede.
Olukoyede also said the EFCC has been cleaning its house, having dismissed 27 members of the commission last year due to graft allegations.
“You cannot be fighting corruption and be corrupt yourself. I have publicly challenged anyone to come forward with evidence that I have collected bribes in my years of service. Integrity is key in this fight, and we must lead by example,” he said.
The chairman of the EFCC urged the media to play a more active role in helping shape public perception of the commission and its work, advocating for more investigative journalism that exposes corruption and celebrates its own successes.
“The media has always been a key player in the anti-corruption fight. In the early 2000s, journalists were the ones who exposed many financial crimes, long before the establishment of the EFCC. We need to return to that era, where the media and law enforcement work together to protect the country,” he said.
Michael Nzekwe, the Chief of Staff to the EFCC Chairman, commended the media for its sensitisation and advocacy and called for greater collaboration.
