Four individuals suspected of internet fraud, commonly known as “Yahoo boys,” have been arrested for the gruesome torture of three trainees. These apprentices had sought to learn the illicit trade but found themselves subjected to brutal punishment after failing to successfully defraud a victim they had targeted online. Among the suspects, one was identified as the wife of the group’s leader.
Preliminary investigations conducted by the police indicate that the three apprentices had traveled from Imo State to Lagos to acquire the skills of internet fraud. The suspects, namely Israel Simon, Prince Adam, Precious Mayor, and his wife, Emmanuella, allegedly resorted to physical violence when their trainees could not execute the fraudulent scheme as expected.
According to sources within the police department, one of the victims, unable to endure the torture any longer, reached out to a friend who promptly alerted the Igbogbo division of the police force. The trainees recounted their harrowing experience, revealing that they were confined to a room where Mayor purportedly beat them, inflicting severe injuries.
A trainee, whose identity remains undisclosed, lamented, “We came from Imo State last month to learn Yahoo. Someone introduced us to Mayor. They put us through for eight days and told us to go fishing on the internet for victims. We could not succeed, and we were given a victim to target. However, they claimed we failed, and in a fit of anger, we were locked in a room, stripped of our clothes, and subjected to flogging. We were told that this discipline was part of the learning process.”
In response to the incident, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hudenyin, confirmed the arrest of both the four suspects and the three trainee Yahoo boys. He disclosed, “Four suspects were arrested. The three trainee Yahoo boys were equally arrested. They came from Imo State to learn Yahoo Yahoo.” Hudenyin emphasized that the investigation is ongoing at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, Lagos, as authorities strive to bring those responsible to justice.
