Inside the Scam: How Underage Boys Obtain Accounts and Licences for Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has disclosed that underage boys involved in internet fraud, commonly known as 'Yahoo Yahoo,' utilize age declarations to open bank accounts and obtain driver's licenses to facilitate the expenditure of their ill-gotten gains. The EFCC has pledged to pursue government agencies and individuals responsible for issuing fraudulent documents for these deceptive age declarations.

During a courtesy visit to the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Benin City, Effa Okim, the Zonal Director of the EFCC for Edo, Delta, and Ondo states, shared this information. He also revealed that despite its smaller size, Edo State ranks second only to Lagos in terms of convictions.

Okim expressed concern about the prevalence of 'Yahoo Yahoo' activities on the streets, describing it as disturbing and detrimental to the reputation of Edo State. He highlighted cases where underage boys are sentenced to jail, despite being legally exempt from such punishment due to their age. Okim explained that these individuals collude with certain authorities to obtain fraudulent age declarations, falsely claiming to be 18 years old, in order to open bank accounts and establish their criminal enterprises. However, when apprehended, their parents often assert that their children are underage, raising questions about their involvement in document forgery and their awareness of their children's irresponsible spending.

The EFCC is committed to collaborating with the media to reduce the visibility of crime in society, aligning with its mandate and vision. Festus Alenkhe, in response, urged the new zonal director to maintain an open-door policy and ensure the availability of information to journalists.

Disturbing News: Calabar Naval Officer's Private Part Goes Missing

According to a report by Vanguard on September 18th, 2023, there have been incidents of male private part theft in Calabar, Cross River State. These activities have been occurring for three weeks and have now extended to the Nigerian Navy Barracks in Akim. In one particular incident, a naval officer, whose name was not disclosed, was stationed at the entry point of the barracks when a young man named Samuel entered. Samuel was directed to the sentry point for security screening.

During the interaction between Samuel and the sentry officer, the naval officer reportedly felt a sensation similar to an electric shock around his genitals. Upon touching the area, he realized that his private part had disappeared. This led to the naval officer raising an alarm, and Samuel was apprehended and beaten. The naval officer and others present demanded that Samuel return the missing genital immediately.

It is worth noting that the alleged genital thief neither confirmed nor denied responsibility for the disappearance of the private part, nor did he indicate whether he would return it.

Three nabbed in Rivers for alleged involvement in murder and organ harvesting

The Rivers State Police Command has reported the apprehension of three individuals in relation to the alleged murder and extraction of organs from a man named Progress in the Ogbaraye community of Abua/Odual Local Government Area. This occurrence took place shortly after the arrest of three individuals, including two pastors, by a vigilante group called OSPAC in Port Harcourt. The previous arrests were made in connection with the death of a 24-year-old physically challenged man, whom they were accused of killing and harvesting his organs.

According to a source from the community named Otuks, Progress, who was a motorcycle taxi rider from Aminigboko community, was transporting goods from Abua Central to Amingboko when the incident occurred. An unidentified individual suspected to be involved in ritualistic practices had allegedly engaged a group of five young men to acquire human body parts, offering them a substantial sum of money exceeding two million Naira.

Otuks stated that the victim was killed along the Emebu/Obrean boundary, and certain body parts were severed. The incident took place on a Friday night, and following the crime, the perpetrators fled the scene. However, three of the suspects were later apprehended.

Grace Iringe-Koko, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, confirmed the incident and the arrest of the suspects, stating that they had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department.

Prophet Under Fire for Impregnating Friend's Wife

The Nation reports that Prophet Oluwaseun Akinnubi, the founder of Christ the Helper Foundation Ministry, has been accused of getting his friend’s wife pregnant. The prophet’s friend, Tunbosun, had offered him his living room to use as a church where he performed deliverance services for people. However, he did not know that his wife would also fall prey to the prophet.

Sources said that the prophet impregnated Tunbosun’s wife while he was staying with them. The shocking revelation came to light when Tunbosun’s elder brother, Moses Akinnuoye, exposed the prophet’s deeds at their father’s house at Mobolade Street, Ore, Odigbo local government area, Ondo State.

According to The Nation, Tunbosun had taken in the prophet when he was homeless, but he ended up losing his wife to him. Tunbosun and his wife had three daughters, but the prophet told him that God had ordained that she should be his wife.

“After getting the woman pregnant, the prophet moved her to another apartment and left her husband’s house,” a source said.

"To our surprise, after mama Precious delivered, we saw her husband going to the prophet’s new place to do laundry for his wife and the new baby.

"A neighbour called Tubosun and told him that the prophet had snatched his wife, but he did not care. Instead, he continued going to the place to wash his wife’s and the baby’s clothes. He also use to clean the house.

“At that point, we knew the prophet had already bewitched Tubosun, because his behaviour was strange. We think he is no longer sane.”

Another neighbour said: "The prophet’s sudden action is evil. Tubosun has not been normal since he welcomed him.

"Some months after he moved in with the couple, people came in large numbers to worship in the church. We were amazed that the man was collecting a bag of rice from each of his members who came for deliverance, while he did not solve their problems.

"Later, I found out that the so-called G.O. was having an affair with Tubosun’s wife, a mother of three girls. I personally warned him about the illicit affairs. But to my shock, he did not believe me.

"Tubosun later discovered and confronted Akinnubi. But the pastor replied him that he and his wife were joined together from heaven.

“After a while, Akinnubi rented another apartment for the woman, while he holds church service everyday at Tubosun’s residence in the morning and night,” he narrated.

Tubosun’s elder brother, Akinnuoye, who confirmed the incident, said he was stunned at the police station when the Prophet claimed ownership of the baby and the pregnancy.

Akinnuoye said, "Four rooms were robbed in the house and I decided to call the police since people were complaining that some persons used to come after others have left for work.

"He was doing church service in my brother’s living room. It was at the police station I started hearing different story. The Pastor claim he is the father of the baby. My brother said he cannot go against God’s will.

“The Pastor told my brother that God told him he cannot marry the woman. When my brother agreed that he heard God’s voice and left his wife for his friend, what can anybody do? I just want the Pastor to remove his things from the House. The Pastor has been released on bail.”

Strategies to Stop the Spread of 'Yahoo' Ritual Killings

The article from Punch Newspaper, dated September 8th, 2023, states that Nigeria is plagued by many factors that contribute to crime, such as unemployment, family breakdown, societal violence, moral decay, poverty, and weak state and social institutions. It also accuses some police officers of colluding with cybercriminals instead of arresting them. For instance, the FBI claimed that a notorious Nigerian cybercriminal, known as ‘Hushpuppi,’ bribed a former Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, with N8 million to detain one of his rivals.

The article urges security agencies to improve their performance and bring these criminals to justice. It commends the EFCC for its efforts in fighting cybercrime, but notes that the problem is still widespread. In 2022 alone, the agency secured the conviction of 3,615 suspects.

The article also calls for the prosecution of those who are involved in ritual killings, such as herbalists, spiritualists, and religious fraudsters. It suggests that state authorities should work with traditional religious institutions to identify and weed out the culprits.

The article concludes by recommending that state and social institutions should work harder to restore ethical values in the society. It also advises the federal and state governments to implement programmes that promote economic activities, create jobs, and provide quality social services for the youth.

Drug kingpin finally caught by NDLEA after 25-day pursuit

According to a report from Punch on September 4th, 2023, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended Ngene Onyedikachi, a drug kingpin who played a significant role in recruiting a couple of individuals involved in smuggling. This couple was arrested in Lagos on August 1, 2023. Additionally, the NDLEA carried out successful operations across the country, resulting in the seizure of various types of illicit drugs.

On August 6, 2023, The PUNCH reported the arrest of the fake couple, Onyebuchi and Nonyelum, by the NDLEA operatives. The couple had ingested 184 wraps of cocaine, weighing 3.322kg, with an additional 100 grams of the drug concealed in the woman's private part.

Furthermore, the NDLEA announced on Sunday that they have apprehended several other suspects involved in drug-related offenses throughout the country. These individuals include Peter Iwebema, Ekechukwu Ndubuisi, Suleiman Oba, Nafiu Arzika, Jamilu Aminu, and Ismaila Razak, among others.

Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, stated in a statement obtained on Sunday that Ngene Onyedikachi was arrested at his residence in Akoka, Yaba by NDLEA operatives on Friday. The arrest of Onyedikachi, who was responsible for recruiting the fake couple, Ilonzeh Onyebuchi and Ilonzeh Nonyelum, was the result of an intensive 25-day surveillance operation.

Babafemi further mentioned that the suspect confessed to being introduced to the fake couple by another member of his criminal syndicate, whom he had met at a church in Lagos.