The Lagos State Police have successfully arrested four internet fraud experts and six of their trainees at an internet fraud training facility, commonly known as a “Yahoo School,” in the Iju area of Lagos. The arrest follows a well-coordinated operation by the police, who have now launched a manhunt for the owner of the facility, who remains on the run.
The police spokesperson, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed in a statement on Tuesday that the four primary suspects, aged between 22 and 26, were responsible for running the criminal training school. They were training a group of six individuals, aged between 12 and 26, in the art of cybercrime and internet fraud.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects had recruited the trainees from Anambra state, engaging them in various forms of online fraud. The proceeds from these criminal activities were allegedly confiscated by the main suspects.
Hundeyin further revealed that all the arrested suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Yaba for further investigation and prosecution. Authorities are actively working to track down additional accomplices involved in the illegal operations.
The police are also seeking the whereabouts of the facility’s owner, warning him to surrender to the SCID immediately. The owner is accused of facilitating the illegal activities and financing the trainees’ enrollment in the criminal school.
Among the suspects, a 12-year-old trainee was discovered with visible marks of abuse. The child, who is receiving medical care for injuries inflicted by the principal suspect, is in protective custody while authorities work to locate his family.
Hundeyin appealed to parents and guardians to closely monitor the activities of their children and wards, urging them to prevent their involvement in criminal activities. He also encouraged any individuals who have fallen victim to the syndicate’s fraudulent schemes to come forward with their complaints at the SCID.
In a show of support for the police operation, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, commended the officers for their dedication and professionalism in bringing down the cybercrime network. CP Jimoh reiterated the police command’s commitment to combating all forms of crime, including internet fraud.
