Yahoo Yahoo: EFCC Warns Students of Consequences, Urges Them to Embrace Integrity
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has warned Nigerian students against internet fraud, popularly known as Yahoo Yahoo, cautioning that involvement in cybercrime could destroy their future and expose them to serious legal consequences.
The EFCC Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, issued the warning on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, while addressing students and staff of New Capital School, Asokoro, Abuja, during a visit to the Commission’s Corporate Headquarters.
Olukoyede, represented by the Head of the Public Interface Unit, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE I Tony Ojelimafe Orilade, said the Commission’s fight against financial crimes was aimed at protecting the future of young Nigerians and ensuring national development.
He explained that economic and financial crimes, particularly the diversion and misappropriation of public resources, undermine the provision of essential services such as education, healthcare and employment.
The EFCC Chairman said the Commission was established in 2003 to combat economic and financial crimes and prevent criminal activities from threatening the country’s development.
He maintained that fighting corruption would help create a society where young Nigerians could access quality education, secure meaningful employment and enjoy adequate healthcare without having to leave the country in search of better opportunities.
Urging the students to stay away from internet fraud, Olukoyede warned that engaging in cybercrime could damage their academic pursuits, future employment opportunities and international travel prospects.
“Run away from internet fraud. It is not something to think of,” he cautioned.
He also called on the students to take personal responsibility for promoting integrity and rejecting criminal activities, noting that their actions could affect not only their individual reputations but also their families.
In her remarks, the Head of the EFCC Enlightenment and Reorientation Unit, ACE II Aisha Mohammed, said the Commission’s engagement with students was part of its preventive approach to fighting corruption.
She explained that the EFCC carries out its mandate through prevention, investigation and prosecution, urging the students to take its anti-corruption messages seriously.
Mohammed encouraged them to establish or join Integrity Clubs in their schools, describing the initiative as an avenue for promoting ethical values and involving young people in the fight against corruption.
As part of the engagement, Eniola Kayode, a Detective with the Commission’s Cybercrime Unit in the Investigation Department, delivered a presentation on “The Effects of Cybercrimes.”
She educated the students on various forms of cybercrime, including online fraud, hacking and impersonation, while highlighting their financial, emotional, legal and social consequences.
Kayode noted that cybercrime extends beyond its immediate victims, affecting families, legitimate businesses and the country’s international image.
She advised the students to remain vigilant online and promptly report suspicious activities, threats or attempts to obtain their personal information to their parents, teachers or guardians.
She further urged them to seek help whenever they experience online threats or intimidation rather than keeping such incidents to themselves.
