Mr Chibuikem Dials .Co _Founder.The House Excellence Built ( THEB).He is also the Chief Inspirer Of the Renew IMO Project.Who said, Few days ago ,Premium Times home Page Screamed
with the headline-
"EFCC arrests 37 'Yahoo Boys', recovers 25 Exotic Cars"
According to the story the South East Zonal Head of EFCC said "the suspects reportedly specialise in defrauding unsuspecting victims, through the internet"
He further said "...it appears that this cybercrime is one of the challenges of our time, which the EFCC is willing to face drastically"
While I hope the EFCC are able to deal with these arrests legally and with utmost sincerity so that innocent Nigerians do not suffer. Permit me to say that this arrests have opened up the opportunity for me and indeed a lot of other Nigerians to share their views on the overwhelming issue of "Yahoo Yahoo Boys" in Nigeria.
It is very unfortunate that we have almost lost every moral fibre in us as a people with the growing spate of cybercrime all over the country including, Owerri Imo State which is speedily gaining the hype as the "headland of G Men." Thanks to the government, security agencies, the church, communities and families who allowed our dear state to gain such notoriety.
To say that Cybercrime, 'Yahoo', 'Yahoo+' 'G', 'Maga' or 'ego mbute' whichever name you chose to call it is one of the challenges of our time is an understatement. It is the biggest evil of our generation. It is the biggest collateral damage bequeathed to this generation by a failed system buoyed by a 'greedy' impressionable few young people willing to do anything to 'appear' successful. Yet, they die within.
Yes, willing to do anything including: steal pants, lure young girls into relationships with the intention of using them for rituals, kill their mothers, eat burger (feaces packaged in bread), step on tortoise while pressing their computers to defraud, and many more unimaginable acts.
On the surface it is made to look like internet fraud, but in truth, its beyond such; whether ritual, mystical or wash wash Yahoo Yahoo its evil and must not be supported. How come, we now accept fraudulent people as credible people? How come we have rebranded 'Onye Oshi' and 'Onye Ogwu Ego' to now Onye Eze' and 'Chairman'?
In most cases, these "Yahoo boys" have priests, prophets and prophetesses standing in the gap, performing sacrifices for them on defiled altars. With declarations that they will succeed in their unlawful mission. Oh! What manner of evil prophet.
For instance, in Delta State, alleged stories of a few young 'harworking' huzzling yahoo men that rented a flat where they put on their generator 24/7. Usually, they invite girls and its alleged that none gets to leave alive as reported by neigbours who only see the girls come, & dont see them leave.
One day the boys left the house and the power source went off. Terrible smells started oozing out of the flat and the security officials were invited. It was later discovered that the flat was a slaughter house for human parts/ritual. The boys were arrested. These boys who parade as huzzling yahoo boys were actually ritualists.
While it is depressing to hear that 37 young boys (maybe girls inclusive) were arrested in Owerri Imo State over suspicions of involvement in fraudlent acts, it's even more depressing to hear the responses by some fellow young persons in the society.
Their comments on social media call for concern especially as it relates to the moral state of our land. It raises deep questions on the kind of upcoming families, the future of our children and the environment we expect them grow. It calls for concern of the type of leaders we expect to have in 20- 30 years time. It equally brings to fore the collateral failure of our core institutions (Family, Society, Church, School and Government) in deploying morality in our society. There is a total collapse of values.
For instance, Chidiebere Uzoma, in subtle support for the alleged fraudstars commented thus on the Premium Times report; "EFCC should go after the public office holders that are stealing millions, billions and trillions of naira. They are the real thieves!!!!!! Government should also provide jobs for the unemployed youths." Chidiebere, a youth does not agree that "Yahoo" is an illegal profession.
Also a popular singer with large youth following Dammy Krane in defence of "Yahoo boys" said "Yahoo Boys" are the ones balling in All Yankee Clubs, clubs worldwide self. Sometimes, all through the night, quite safe to say Yahoo boys are African Music promoters/influencers." Krane believes Yahoo boys are the influencers/funders of African music so they are good to go.
Another lady Onyinyechi Egbo (OnyiiSexy) justifying the crimes in a Facebook comment questioned the EFFC rationale thus; "Did you give them (Alleged "Yahoo Boys") job? Why cannot you leave them alone, EFCC is meant for protecting government money and yet you people are not doing it. Did you want them to carry gun and start to malice you and I. Stop arresting Yahoo boys they didn't do you people anything, the car you collected form them what are going to do with it. Since the government didn't care about us, allow survive on our own period. Face the governors, President, ministers,and senators if you know what you are doing. All the EFCC are most corrupt and bribe minded people. God will visit you people one day." Onyinyechi believes that EFCC operatives are very corrupt, hence they should not go after Yahoo Boys. Rather they should focus only on corrupt government officials.
Now, I am devastated. Totally disgusted by the level of seared consciences in our society. These are young people who should become parents and leaders today and tomorrow. Who did we wrong?
Before now, the Igbo traditional institution forbids all manner of stealing and robbery. They abhor murder, not to talk of killing for ritual purposes. In the olden days, culprits are caught, disciplined and in most cases exiled from the community for bringing shame and dishonor to the land. In some extreme cases, they were sold out as slaves to the slave masters. Today, the slaves ride on horses while the princes walk barefoot.
In fact, it was unimaginable to have a criminal harbour in any decent Igbo community. The traditional rulers, the Igwe In Council, the Okpa -Ofors and the Ime Obi were men of honour and high moral values. Their stock in trade was to instill/maintain discipline in the land so as to avoid desecration of the land. They did all they could to protect the sanctity of the land. Any extreme crime is considered a sacrilege and culprits are dealt without fear or favour.
Today, even the traditional institution is not spared, especially after selfish political leaders have balkanized the authentic traditional heritage in the name of autonomous communities and have paved way for the installation of questionable traditional rulers. Fear and cowardice now rule the land.
Shockingly, Nze Elvis Agukwe, a former Special Adviser to Imo State Governor on Political Affairs and Ex Commissioner for Information Imo State while commenting on IfeanyiCY blog (a popular blogger and social media strategist) further raises our worry when he said; "This Arrest by the EFCC is unbecoming of an Agency set up by the government to fight financial crimes but rather use their so called office to intimidate and harras innocent citizens in our state..."
Nze Agukwe further questioned EFCC "...How can you talk about fake intelligence reports to arrest innocent citizens who are doing private huzzling to survive or do you want them to become armed robbers"
Mr Agukwe who claims to have worked for EFCC also believe that the operatives should focus on the government rather than continue intimidating his boys. In his words "all the major petitions bothering on looting of public treasury are left untouched. All the mansions of public officers and their so called lavish lifestyles are left untouched. From where do they make all those money to build mansions while in service . Enough of this dramatization and intimidation of our boys"
With the above comments from a political leader, a father and opinion moulder, one then wonders the hope of our tomorrow. Could he be speaking the minds of a few powerful individuals who are untouchable? Wherein lies the godly heritage? What has been his opinion on the growing allegations of cybercrime, ritual killing, cultism and mystical riches coming out of Imo state and Nigeria at large.
Challenges Posed
It is pertinent to mention that while a few bad eggs exist we still have very proud and decent Nigerians doing credible businesses out their. However, these criminals stand the chance of destroying the good image of many. They stand the chance of defiling our young girls who are easily deceived with all manner of fake lives.
In fact it is alleged that the ritual Yahoo guys make love to girls intentionally for ritual purposes. By that they destroy their wombs and steal their virtues for money, hence their herbalists give them targets of sleeping with several number ladies within a short period. Painfully, mothers, permit me to inform you that your daughters are already rotten under your nose.
Unfortunately, it is also becoming difficult for our hardworking guys to get decent beautiful girls to marry. A lady would prefer to marry a loaded tinted Lexus driving chap with curled hair with no verifiable source of income than marry a PHD holder who is still struggling with a paid job prized under the minimum wage. "A PHD holder without a flashy car and wands of cash to spend in shopping malls is a 'Jew' man." In fact, many hardworking graduates these days out of frustration go to 'work' with the Yahoo guys as 'boys'.
On the other hand, as a business developer and recruiter for the hospitality industry, I can confidently say that it is getting increasingly difficult to find young boys to employ as waiters/porters. They never consider any paid job as sensible. "Why would I work for 20/25k as a porter while my mates are lodging in the same hotel for months- moving babes and spending millions."
In truth, when some of these employees agree to work in the hotel, it is to use it as a stop gap before "maga" pays. In some cases, the gullible ones working in the hotel provide their accounts to the " Yahoo boys" for money 'clearance'.
Intriguingly, there is also a smart move by "Yahoo Boys" to legitimize their ill-gotten wealth as they heavily invest in all manner of businesses to rewrite their story. They have become employers of labour and the society have come to accept them as genuine saviours from a government that has failed in providing needed welfare and social services to the people.
They have also planted themselves in government at state and Federal levels. For instance, rumours have it that some of the newly elected members of Imo state House of Assembly are "Yahoo boys" turned politicians. One then wonders the kind of legislation such entities will pass.
The Task Ahead-
In all these, I must place some blame on the government and security agencies for closing their eyes to these financial crimes for years. Security operatives have been alleged to extort money from these suspected individuals from time to time. This definitely would have emboldened the Yahoo boys since they believed they can find their way out of the law. The greatest harm has been in the last four years, as the leadership have been latent in dealing with such rampant issues.
The government have also failed in delivering the moral fibre that a society needs. Smartly, the government realizing it's failure in meeting its obligations allowed these alleged cybercrimes to continue. Of course, government is also burdened by morality of their own ways.
At this point, all hands must be on deck to rid our society of these bad elements who thrive and glory in destroying other people's lives. When they defraud someone to the tune of thousands and millions of dollars, they subject that person to all manner of psychological and mental stress leading to suicide and death.
Their actions also destroys the legacies of our fore fathers who themselves were men of value and character. The actions of these few bad eggs also threaten the future of our children, our youths, our girls and our community. They destroy the psyche of the hardworking majority who have refused to be discouraged by the plethora of challenges around them and have continued to be resilient and innovative. By their actions they make nonsense of ingenuity, innovation and credible efforts.
The police and the government must sit up and defend the cause of the nation. Bad eggs must be found out via credible intelligence and dealt with according to the law. This will help in restoring the hope and trust of the people in themselves. It will restore value and honour and dignity and pride among the hardworking youth of this country.
It is also important to state that no level of corruption by government officials and no amount of unemployment in the country should embolden any youth to embark on "Yahoo Yahoo" dance of shame
In Imo, I encourage the new government to intentionally focus its value reorientation as a major pillar of sustainable governance and not a tool for propaganda.
The government in Imo and its institutions must not create safe havens for these cybercrime actors as was the case in the past. They must dissociate themselves from them for the good of the ordinary citizens.
In the coming years, leadership will be judged by the quality/value of its people and not necessarily the value of its physical infrastructure. For infrastructure are built for humans and not humans for infrastructure.
On their part, higher institutions in collaboration with security agencies must begin to question students who live flamboyant lives. There has to be evidence of source of wealth proven by the student. A student whose source of income is questionable is a threat to other students, a threat to the community and to the nation.
The Church and the family have failed in this respect. Their collective silence and ungodly consensus in not speaking boldly (maybe out of fear or sheer hypocrisy) is unchristian and is condemnable.
The ideology of "mmanyi gazie uzo, oñuñu, mmanyi gahie uzo, oñuñú" (No matter the outcome of a mission, the palm wine must be consumed and not be returned back) should never have been applied in this case.
Worse still, it seems that "Ebe nwa siri yoo uwa, ya ziri we" (wherever the source of conception of the new born baby- may it be well) is now the order of the day- Parents now willingly marry off their daughters to these questionable characters. Are those really parents?
Parents, the Church, the community and teachers in primary and secondary schools must get back to work. We must begin to speak the right words into the ears of our children. We must begin to shame the evil among us and mentor these children before the stranger takes them away from us. If you don't teach these children right today, they will put you to shame tomorrow.
As Senator Shehu Sani said, "Those who refused to flush their toilets, will have difficulties sleeping in their comfortable rooms."
I am consoled by the words of Chiedoziem Uwazie who said in a Facebook comment that "lack of job creation is not an excuse for crime. There are people in the same environment where job is not created who are not engaging in crime. Some learn a trade and work on it, set up a small business and grow that way.
"Crime is an excuse for people who are immoral, impatient and unwilling to do things that benefit society as a whole, rather do things they can use to oppress society.
"Chiedoziem concludes by saying "EFCC crackdown is good. Even if its not EFCC, anyone that cracks down on crime is good."
Today, I call on all of us, Ndi Imo to join in this crackdown on crime in our land.
To our dear youths, I close with portions of Psalm 37:7&9
"Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass."
"For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth."
The battle line between good and evil; between vessels of honour and that of dishonor. Honour, Truth and Good will always thrive.
Report By :Chidimma Ihenacho
Cross section of the participants at the symposium on Tuesday at the Musa Yar'adua Centre, Abuja.
