Internet fraud popularly known as ‘Yahoo-Yahoo’ is not new in Nigeria, though it has gained more relevance in the last decade, the crime dates back to over twenty years in Nigeria.

It will not be out of place to say it’s as old as internet in Nigeria which informs why it is named after Yahoomail, the most popular and widely used email service in Nigeria in that era – the early 2000s, long before the arrival of Google Mail (Gmail).

While the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is on a massive clampdown on Yahoo Boys, those who overcame peer pressure and didn’t take to the crime in the early 2000s when their peers were oppressing with proceeds of crime, seem to be thankful for the choice they made.

A Nigerian man took to Twitter on Thursday to share what turned out to be a testimony of his decision to quit as a ‘Yahoo Yahoo’ apprentice and face academics, after he was scolded and beaten by his grandmother in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Alex Oluwatobi narrated how peer influence led him to give internet fraud a trial after leaving secondary school.

His friend who was his tutor mocked him when he quit being his apprentice.

Alex added that after he stopped being an apprentice, his friend bought cars and was living a good life while he went to study at the University of Ibadan.

“He will see me most of the time while driving past and call me ‘Schoolboy’, and laugh hilariously with the other Gees. Ọmọ, the thing they pain me die!, He said.

In a twist of fate, about 13 years after, Alex said he stumbled on his friend in Ibadan where he is studying to write WAEC and JAMB.

“The son of my grandma’s tenant that should be like 15 – 17 years old is tutoring Drey who should be like 28-30 years old by now,” he said

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Alex’s concern about his friend’s sudden fall from grace to grace led him to make findings about his ordeal.

He narrated:

“After my secondary education, all I wanted to become was a Yahoo boy. Seeing my peers doing the Y-Y level steady cashing out, wearing customized jerseys, nice sneakers, flashing belt, using iPod/Mp3 players was so fascinating, so I really wanted to belong.

“So one afternoon, I stole my grandma’s money and went to Antis cybercafé down the street in Yemetu, Ìbàdàn. I bought 30 mins and started surfing the net, not really knowing what I was doing but at least, I’ve learnt how to send mails and use yahoo messenger before I left Mayflower.

“I tried combing some sites like Amazondirect, Tigerdirect, Blackplanet, Craigslist etc. But I couldn’t find my way around till the mins got exhausted. I was frustrated so I left the cafe angrily.

“The next day, I decided to meet the most popular and richest gee amongst my peer. His name is Drey (not real name), he promised to take me through everything I needed to know but at a cost. So I upped my stealing game & started paying him with Alhaja’s money all for him to put me through. You will always see me sitting beside him at Antis Cafe in Yemetu and sometimes at Netzone Cafe in Mokola, Ìbàdàn.

“To cut the long story short, for close to the 3months I was doing “apprenticeship” with him, I didn’t collect shingbain but this guy keeps collecting stuff and will still be lying to me that clients are not paying or pickers are not picking my stuff.

“One day I got tired of all the lies, challenged him and we fought brutally. I asked for a refund of all the money I have paid him. He sha gave me some ridiculous amount of money which I used to buy my first browsing phone. lol

“My grandma (Alhaja) later found out about the whole stuff, she beat me the hell out of me and decided to send me to my aunt’s place in Àkúré. It was while I was in Àkúré I heard that Drey has bought a car. Later, I heard he has gotten another car, a house and impregnated a girl.

“3years after, I gained admission into University of Ibadan. So I do visit Alhaja during the weekend once in a while. Drey will see me most of the time while driving past and call me “School boy”, and laugh hilariously with the other Gees. Ọmọ, the thing they pain me die!

“Earlier this month, I decided to spend some days out of my annual leave with Alhaja, so I travelled to Ibadan. Lo and behold, I met Drey (13years after) coming out of one of grandma’s rented apartment, with the son of the tenant, carrying a side bag loaded with books,

“I was happy to see him, shook his hands firmly and hugged him. I asked about life, career his son, but he was just smiling. I was expecting the chant “School boy” but he didn’t. I asked what he was doing here and he said “tutorials” and quickly bid me goodbye.

“A lot of questions was running through my mind: “Why would Drey be doing tutorials?” “Where are his cars?” “His house?” I later felt maybe it was computer science tutorials, so I asked Alhaja what Drey was doing here and she replied “He came to do LESSON.”

“After some minutes, I beckoned on the tenant’s son to confirm what Drey was doing here and he replied with a big smile: “I am Bro Drey WAEC and JAMB lesson teacher.” I was confused, flabbergasted and out of words for close to a minute; I asked “Wait, what do you mean?”

“So apparently, it’s actually the other way round. The son of my grandma’s tenant that should be like 15 – 17 years old is tutoring Drey who should be like 28-30 years old by now. I was very sad, so I decided to find out what really happened to him.

“So I was told Drey nearly ran mad in Ogbomosho around 2013 when he tried using one babe for money rituals. He has been at a Celestial Church in Akure since the incidence happened, and was brought back to Ibadan in 2017 when his parents feel he is getting better.

“He is planning on writing WAEC and JAMB next year. Honestly, I don’t even know how to feel about this. Wish i could help him. PS: This is a true life story.”

 

See his tweet:

 

After my secondary education, all i wanted to become was a Yahoo boy.

Seeing my peers doing the Y-Y level steady cashing out, wearing customized jerseys, nice sneakers, flashing belt, using Ipod/Mp3 players was so fascinating, so i really wanted to belong…

THREAD.

— Alex Oluwatobi (@alexlobaloba) October 24, 2019