Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, on Friday, hinted that the state tops the ladder of the internet fraudsters known as “yahoo boys” in Nigeria.
He also disclosed that the internet fraudsters recently held an award ceremony in Abeokuta where prizes were given to “best hacker and fraudsters.”
The governor quoted the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, to have made the revelation while engaging in an event in Abuja.
Abiodun spoke at the Arcade Ground, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, during the launch of the state joint security outfit, code-named OP-MESA on Friday.
While quoting Bawa, Abiodun said, “Ogun State tops the list of Yahoo Yahoo boys.”
The governor, however, said he told Bawa that activities of the “yahoo boys” are rampant in Ogun because the state plays host to the highest number of higher institutions in the country, a position, he said the EFCC chairman agreed to.
He announced his government’s preparedness to set up a commission to fight financial crimes in the state, with a view to flushing internet fraudsters from the state.
Abiodun also declared war on the resurgence of kidnapping, saying they have no place in the state.
He said “Let me reiterate that we will make Ogun State inhabitable for all criminals. The other day I was in a meeting in Abuja and in attendance was the Chairman of EFCC. And sadly he said to me, ‘Ogun State tops the list of Yahoo Yahoo boys.’ Sadly.
“But I said to him that I am not surprised because Ogun State is the education capital of this country and you would find such yahoo-yahoo boys around educational institutions, and he agreed with me. He went ahead and said to me that ‘the other day, Yahoo-Yahoo boys had an award ceremony in Abeokuta, an award ceremony where they were awarding prizes to the best hacker, the best fraudster.’ of course with a sting operation at that award ceremony, some of them were arrested.
“We have decided to set up our own state commission that would be targeted toward eliminating these financial crimes. Our state commission will collaborate with other commissions so that we do not occupy that first place in this area. We have been first in many areas, but not in fraud and yahoo-yahoo.”
While affirming that OP-MESA was established to fight criminals across the state, he assured the people that members of the outfit would be picked to ensure they have the right discipline as well as ensure that they are committed to their assignment.
The governor further said that the launch of the outfit with fifteen vehicles, two armoured personal carriers and communication equipment would be done on a quarterly basis until the outfit reaches its desired number.
He enjoined the people of the state to take ownership of the outfit by collaborating with the personnel of the outfit for a more secure state.
“Today, we are launching OPMESA with a few types of equipment, in the first instance. We are providing them with fifteen pick up trucks, communication equipment, two armoured personal carriers; we will be providing them with this support every quarter, meaning that, in the next quarter, we give them another fifteen vehicles, another quarter, another fifteen vehicles until we reach the number that they require.
“I, therefore, enjoin our people to take ownership of this security outfit by collaborating with it and supporting it. Together, we shall make Ogun State a most hospitable and conducive place of our collective dreams,” he said.
In his remarks, the General Officer Commanding, 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, comprising Lagos and Ogun State, Major General Lawrence Fejokwu, commended the Governor for reactivating the outfit and providing them with the necessary equipment.
The two-star general said that he has no doubt in his mind that the state would become more secured with the support of the Governor.
The Commissioner of Police, Lanre Bankole, while noting that the equipment was another example of the support that would enable them to discharge their duties diligently, pledged to make the best use of the equipment.
The Alake and paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, in his remarks, appreciated the governor for putting more effort at maintaining the position of the state as the safest in the country.
