The Lagos State Police Command has uncovered a cybercrime training centre, commonly called a ‘Yahoo School’, operating in the Iju area.
The illegal facility was dismantled, and ten suspects were arrested during the operation.
Police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin confirmed the arrest in a statement on Tuesday, revealing that four suspects, aged between 22 and 26, were running the fraudulent operation. Six others, aged 12 to 26, were their trainees, undergoing training in internet fraud.
“During the successful operations, the police detectives apprehended four Yahoo experts, of ages 22, 23, 25, and 26, who were running the notorious school. The other six suspects, who are between the ages of 12 and 26, are their criminal trainees, all of whom were undergoing training in cybercrime and fraud,” he said.
Investigations showed that the masterminds recruited their trainees from Anambra State and engaged them in internet fraud.
“The proceeds from their fraudulent activities were being confiscated by the principal suspects,” the police statement added.
All suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba, for further investigation and possible prosecution.
Police are also working to apprehend other accomplices, including those who financed the operation and the owner of the facility.
“Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the sponsors who financed the trainees’ enrolment in the school, as well as the owner of the facility where these criminal and illegal activities took place.
“The owner of the facility is hereby warned, in his own interest, to turn himself in immediately at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba, from wherever he is hiding,” the statement added.
Hundeyin assured that all suspects would be prosecuted once investigations were concluded.
One of the suspects, a 12-year-old boy, was found with healing wounds allegedly inflicted by the main suspect to force him into criminal activities. He is currently receiving medical treatment and remains in protective custody until his family is identified.
“In line with due process of the law, the underage suspect, with injuries allegedly inflicted on him by the main principal suspect to compel him into the commission of the criminal acts, is being given medical attention.
“He is kept in protective custody till his relatives are identified and reunited with him,” Hundeyin said.
The police have urged victims of the fraudulent scheme to visit the SCID, Yaba, to file complaints.
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