Nigeria cracks down.

NAIJ reports

EFCC Arrests 20 Yahoo-Yahoo Boys In Benin City

31.01.2013, 14:26  Local

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested twenty suspected internet fraudsters. The arrest, which was carried out in a joint operation with officers of the 4 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Benin, followed intelligence report on their activities. They were nabbed in a surprise raid on their Cyber office tucked in an old building located on Siluko Road, Benin City.

It is great to see them being caught. I was made aware of this story by Nnenna at WomenStyles via her Facebook page. One of the comments on her Facebook wall was:

They parade innocent, deprived, unemployed young men that the Nigeria 

nation has failed to provide for as thieves. While the real thieves get two 

years for stealing billions of naira. Its a shame. When the elders steal where 

will the children learn good behaviour.

It is not a point of view I have much sympathy for. That there are worse thieves does little to ameliorate the heartbreak and suffering these guys inflict on their victims. That said I don't have an awful lot of sympathy for the victims either, if you get sucked in by a internet fraudster then you are probably even more a victim of your own stupidity. A further point worth considering is the damage that these guys do to reputation of Nigeria and for that matter Africa. That said internet fraudsters exist the world over and it is great to see Nigeria taking ownership of their problem and do something about it. The 4th Brigade of the Nigerian army would probably make me think twice about carrying on in a life of crime. 


At the point of arrest, the fraudsters had in their possession forty five (45) 

laptops of different make, twenty eight (28) telephone sets, eight (8) internet mobile modems and one Nissan car with registration number USL 375 AG.

The suspected fraudsters who are mostly in their twenties includes: Idehen Obabueki, Adesa Lucky, Usuagu Uche, Eloghosa Olikiabor, Larry Edomwonyi, Amowie Maike, Francis Ezegbede, Itua Samuel and Endurance John Egbeifo. Others are Amego Ovenseri, Iyen Ighodaro, Philip Agbodori, Lucky Robinson, Nnadi Obinna, Osabuohien Osahon, Chinenu Eze, Peter Sunday, Solomon Ogu, Niyi Femi and Osagie Aghedo.

Africa is not big on name suppression. In the West these guys would have been bailed and out on the street with name suppression. 

The suspects have made useful statements. Most of them confessed to be engaged in online dating of foreigners particularly widows. They also confessed to using different pseudo names and faces to deceive their prospective victims. They will be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded.

Hat Tip  Nnenna at WomenStyles