Writer: Tobiloba Adenekan
(Intern with New Telegraph Newspaper. Undergraduate with NIJ)
It sounds incredible, but it’s true anyway; many youths in Nigeria, who are into cybercrime, popularly known as yahoo yahoo, have up their games/crimes.
They have introduced voodoo into the game. At first, cyber-crime was just for the youth to find a gullible victim via internet and sweet talk him or her into parting with money or other valuables.
As the game continues to grow, many victims, whom many Nigeria cyber-criminals called mugu or maga, got to know about the fraudsters and their antics.
These targeted victims, or presupposed victims became wary; this led to cyber-criminals in Nigeria to get less victims, thus make less money.
Determined to maintain and keep to their rich lifestyles and continue to rake in dollars, most cyber-criminals introduced voodoo into cyber-crime.
The voodoo is to spellbound or hypnotized persons they are chatting with or speaking via, to do their bidden.
As Nigerian universities continue to graduate many youths, without any available employment waiting for them, more and more youths take to cyber-crimes like ducks to water.
Cyber scam / scandal, otherwise known as “Yahoo yahoo” is an illegal way of getting money from people through the internet.
It is rather unfortunate that most youths in the world are involved in this crime, creating an avenue for desperation and venture into voodoo and diabolical practices (Ritualism).
This process is called yahoo plus; a diabolical or a fetish means of promoting cyber-crime, which leaves victims depressed and devastated after losing their minds and money. It is alternatively termed “Cyber Diabolic Process” (CDP).
Cyber Diabolic Process (CDP)
It is very displeasing that our youths and leaders of tomorrow are into cyber-crimes and have graduated into ritualism (Yahoo plus).
Imagine a case where a cyber-criminal consults a native doctor to prepare charms that would assist him or her to extort money.
Most of them make use of human excreta and other diabolical means to influence their clients. In most cases, their lovers, partners and family members are victims of their diabolic practices.
Mind boggling true life stories
A beautiful female student of Auchi Polytechnic (Auchi poly) was delivered at a crusade in Auchi, Edo State at Brother Gbile Akanni Ministry some months ago.
The lady vomited all sorts of concoctions that were fed into her system by her lover, who was a ‘yahoo guy.’
She narrated the story of how her lover convinced and lured her to eat and drink some concoctions.
This means that her destiny was used in exchange for wealth by her fetish lover.
She further narrated how her lover collected her menstrual pads and used them for rituals without her knowledge. She began to have her menstrual flow frequently. While she menstruates frequently, her lover gets more clients via online, smiling all the way to his bank. All these events in her life was made known to her after she was delivered at the crusade.
There is another story of a young man at Agege, being chased by policemen attached to Pen cinema Police Station.
He ran and got to where a car was parked, he jumped on it bonnet and pulled down his trousers, displaying horrible, ulcerous wounds on his thighs and legs.
He screamed: “Yes, I’m a yahoo guy, but I didn’t use anybody for charms. I used myself. Police should leave me alone.”
A lot of people witnessed this display at Agege, Lagos State. There was also another instance of a guy at a particular cyber café at Gbagada, Lagos, who died instantly after receiving payment from his client overseas.
It was assumed that his client overseas possessed some potent charms that caused the death of the guy that fateful day.
The rate of cybercrime or “Yahoo” in the country has reached a level, whereby, when these youths couldn’t get victims online, resort to armed robbery, kidnapping and ritual killings. The bottom line is to make money.
Yahoo plus: Some causes of cybercrimes
After a long research and analysis, it is believed that the following are the causes of Cyber Diabolic Process (yahoo plus) which are:-
*Unemployment:-
This is one of the greatest diseases in life. In most cases, these criminals often claimed to have gone into cybercrime or yahoo plus due to lack of employment and business opportunities. Due to the unemployment rate in the country, the rate of cybercrime continues to increases.
* Peer/family pressure:
Sometimes, due to poverty and less finances for upkeep and survival, one can be pressured into committing such crimes. The pressure can come from friends or families.
*Insatiable lust for fame and wealth:-
Due to the quest for power, greed, insatiable hunger for fame, respect and wealth, many youths go into this crime. Even in churches, everyone must get wealthy no matter the source. Several months ago, a pastor was arrested for burying 10 corpses in the foundation of his church. He used those corpses to get wealth and power.
The effect of cybercrimes
*Moral imbalance:-
Victims of this evil act tend to get traumatized and depressed. For instance, once a person discovers that he or she has been duped or swindled, such a person feels brokenhearted and depressed. Some even lose their lifesavings and may commit suicide or go mad.
- Foreign investors will keep away from Nigeria
It’s situation of cybercrimes and youths taking to it, that makes international communities to see Nigerians as criminals and terrorists. Foreigners wouldn’t feel encouraged to invest in Nigeria. These cybercrime perpetrators are giving Nigeria and Nigerians bad names.
Solutions to these causes and effects
*Federal government action/initiatives:-
The federal government should take action and do something about unemployment. In fact, if there’s employment in Nigeria, crime rate will reduce. Government can create social opportunities such as sports, vocational skills, academic competitions, and other opportunities to foster youth development in Nigeria.
*Take responsibility/ create a change:-
Youths should also strive to take responsibilities for their actions. They should be able to conduct campaign against the moral and social vices, including against cybercrimes. Youths should be a voice to the voiceless and hope to other hopeless youths out there.
EFCC and Ignorance in law
I want to believe that some of those reading this my humble submission may be into cybercrimes or are playing to go into it. I urge you not to venture into it. And if you’re already in, please pull out. It’s not too late.
There’s nowhere in the world that crime had ever paid. Every day is for the thief or criminal, but one day is for the owner of the property. You can’t keep escaping the wrath of the law forever.
According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, there’s no excuse or ignorance in law. Once you’re caught, you’re going to prison. No excuses. Think about it. Think of the shame and stigma your arrest and imprisonment will cause your parents, family members and friends.
Conclusion:
A youth is the pillar of the society. If a pillar falls, other pillars become unstable. It is up to every one of us to take a step to make our society crime free, important and relevant by joining our hands and minds to make our country a better place.
First Published 2017
