The Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said forty-eight students of Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, and two locals within the university community were apprehended for alleged involvement in online fraud commonly known as “yahoo”.
In a statement released on Thursday, February 22, Dele Oyewale, the head of media and publicity for the EFCC, disclosed that the arrests were made on Wednesday, February 21, following “discreet investigations” by the intelligence unit.
The crackdown was initiated in response to the growing trend of young individuals engaging in internet fraud, particularly on school campuses.
The statement reads:
“To combat corruption and other illicit activities of ‘yahoo-yahoo boys’ in the state, the EFCC took swift action. After discreet investigations, Commission operatives closed in on the suspects and arrested them in their various hideouts on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, following days of surveillance.
“The arrested individuals include Idris Yekini, Ayantola Segun, Adeshina Taheeb, Mustapha Alamin, Usman Harun, Oladimeji Oseni, Qudus Temitope, Adewunmi Israel, Lukman Uthman, Alamin Ibitoye, Usman Sadiq, Musbau Waris, Ibrahim Oluwatosin, Oladele Israel, and Rafiu Ashimu.
“Additional arrests comprise Aransiola Oluwaseun, Akolade Adetola Toheeb, Joseph Samuel, Adewuyi Quadri, Adebayo Olamilekan, Ogunride Gabriel, Abolaji Ismail, Ogundele Samuel Ejiro, Musa Ali Olawale, Isah Oluwatumishe, Abdullahi Abdulmajib, Abdulralman Abubakar, Olaosebikan Martins, Mazeed Ayomide, Oyeniyi Michael, Moses Bright, Oladipo Victor, Shehu Abdugafar, Abdulmalik Khalid Timileyin, Muhammad Nabil, Adebayo Qudus, and Owoeye Adeyanju.
“Others include Abdulwaheed Zakariyah, Olaleye Gbenga, Victor Kayode, Samad Olarewaju, Raheem Ayomide, Ismail Abdulbasit, Oluyedun Khalid, Moshood Lawal, Utman Abayomi, and Aransiola Joshua. The two residents of Malete are Babalola Razaq and Godwin Ouna Ejika.
“Recovered items from the suspects include nine (9) exotic cars, twenty-four (24) laptops, and various brands of phones.”
Oyewale affirmed that the suspects were in custody and will be arraigned in court once investigations are concluded.