In a decisive crackdown on cybercrime, the Lagos State Police Command has uncovered and dismantled an illicit internet fraud training centre, infamously known as a “Yahoo School,” operating in the Iju area of Lagos State.
During the raid, police operatives apprehended four suspected masterminds behind the cybercrime training facility. The arrested individuals, identified as Chibuike Ihejika (23), Stanley Ihejika (22), Obiora Oyediba (26), and Emmanuel Oyedibe (25), were reportedly running the fraudulent scheme, grooming young recruits in the dark arts of cyber fraud.
In addition to the ringleaders, six individuals undergoing cybercrime training were also taken into custody. They include Okorie Henry, Otoh Chisom (20), Okeke Kwufrochikwu (26), Uchenna Obeji (26), Minachi Udochukwu (12), and Chinedu Ukachukwu (23).
A Web of Criminal Exploitation According to a statement issued by the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, preliminary investigations revealed that the principal suspects lured their recruits from Anambra State, coercing them into internet fraud and forcibly confiscating the proceeds of their fraudulent activities.
“The Lagos State Police Command has successfully uncovered and dismantled an illegal internet fraud training facility, commonly referred to as a ‘Yahoo School,’ operating in the Iju area. During the operation, police detectives arrested four cybercrime instructors along with six trainees who were being groomed for fraudulent activities,” the statement read.
Investigations further disclosed that the suspects not only engaged the trainees in cyber fraud but also subjected them to inhumane treatment. One of the recruits, 12-year-old Minachi Udochukwu, was reportedly found with healing scars from injuries allegedly inflicted by the syndicate leaders to force his compliance in criminal activities. He has since been placed in protective custody and is receiving medical care while authorities work to locate and reunite him with his family.
Authorities Expand Investigations All apprehended suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba, where further in-depth investigations are ongoing. The police have also launched a manhunt for the financiers who facilitated the trainees’ enrollment in the illegal school, as well as the owner of the property where these unlawful activities were being conducted.
The police command issued a stern warning to the fugitive property owner, urging him to surrender to authorities at SCID, Panti, without delay.
Call for Public Vigilance and Cooperation The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, commended the officers involved in the operation for their diligence and professionalism. He reassured Lagos residents of the Command’s unwavering commitment to tackling cybercrime and other forms of criminality in the state.
CP Jimoh also called on parents and guardians to closely monitor their children and wards to prevent them from being enticed or coerced into criminal enterprises. He further encouraged members of the public who may have fallen victim to the syndicate’s fraudulent schemes to come forward and file their complaints at SCID, Yaba.
“The Lagos State Police Command remains resolute in its mission to rid the state of cybercriminal activities. We urge residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station for swift intervention,” the Commissioner stated.
This latest operation marks a significant victory in the ongoing fight against cybercrime, as authorities continue to dismantle networks that threaten the integrity of the digital space and exploit vulnerable individuals for illicit gains.
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