Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Friday arrested 18 suspected Internet fraudsters, commonly called Yahoo Boys, in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. The anti-graft agency said the arrests followed a sting operation it carried out. The arrested persons are: Adeleye Ayodeji, Muhammed Ayub, Odelade Samuel, Sodiq Olanrewaju, Ola Francis, Adeniyi Damilare, Olalekan Samad, Tunde Ayodele, Zubair Buhari and Oladosu Naheem.
Others include Olowokere Jamiu, Lawal Usman, Jamiu Abdulrasaq, Lawal Ahmed, Opeyemi Samuel, Alarape Ahmed, Kolawole Daniel and Ganiyu Taofeek.
The EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, who provided the details in a statement on Friday said the suspects were smoked out of their hideouts at different locations following credible intelligence on the fraudulent activities of the defrauders in Ilorin and its environs. Specifically, they were arrested at Sobi, Akerebiata and Las Vegas Estate, Asa Dam Road, Ilorin.
The statement added that the suspects, who are mostly in their early 20s, included six students of renowned tertiary institutions in the state, a footballer, fashion designer, bitcoin dealer, laundryman and an online gambler.
Uwujaren noted that upon arrest, five exotic cars, 32 different brands of mobile phones, eight laptops and other incriminating materials were recovered from them.
The suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of ongoing investigations.