The arrest of 89 clubgoers labelled as internet fraudsters by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has sparked criticisms from Nigerians on social media.
EFCC had raided a popular nightclub, Club 360, in Ibadan the Oyo State capital on Friday night, arresting 89 people which it labelled as internet fraudsters popularly known as Yahoo Boys.
Video of the raid went viral on social media on Saturday, but the agency took to its Twitter handle on Monday to confirm the arrest and added that it also confiscated scores of vehicles, laptops, sophisticated phones and other items.
EFCC’s tweet which contained photos of the suspects and vehicles seized from them has attracted backlashes from social media users who faulted the antigraft agency for labelling the suspects as Yahoo Boys.
Some argued that a club is a public place and not a place where only internet fraudsters could be found, “arresting everyone at the club and profiling them as yahoo Boys is a wrong move,” a social media user said.
Some have also allayed fears that it is no longer safe to visit nightclubs, saying they could be arrested anytime and labelled internet fraudsters.
Popular career development expert, Dr Dipo Awojide while condemning the EFCC’s raid said:
“You go to a night club and arrest everyone in sight and claim they are Yahoo Boys. You arrest first, then, they try to establish if crime has been committed. Very mediocre way of operating. Club owners should fight this nonsense.
“Less than 6 months ago, the FBI arrested 80 Diaspora Yahoo Yahoo Boys. They already had evidence to nail every single one of them before making any arrest. EFCC can do better. You just can’t go around raiding club houses and arresting every single person in sight. It is wrong!“
Some indigenes of Ibadan who are based in Lagos also added that the Club 360 raided by EFCC is their favourite hangout spot and they could have also been arrested and labelled fraudsters if they were in Ibadan the night of the raid.
A legal practitioner tweeted:
If I was in Ibadan , possible I’ll be @ this Bar drinking on a Friday night (Considering it is close to Pop’s house). So, this is how these Mongs woulda arrested me and tagged me ‘Yahoo Boy’? https://t.co/H05vpSzo1n
— Oddy (@Oddy4real) January 20, 2020
See other reactions:
Anytime I’m in Ibadan, I always go to this spot to hangout cos it’s very close to my parents house. Had it been I was in IB over the weekend I would have been part of these guys and I’m not a yahoo boy.
You have also killed someone’s business, EFCC this is so wrong
— animasaun idris a (@animasaun_a) 20 January 2020
My dear EFCC,
Leave Yahoo Boys for a while & go after thieving politicians. They’re the greater evil. One under your investigation just got appointed governor by Supreme Court. The other that parked Bullion Van on election Eve in his house is yet to write statement. DO BETTER!!! https://t.co/8qrSBAGSaF— Olaudah Equiano® (@RealOlaudah) January 20, 2020
You go to a night club and pack everyone, then label them Yahoo boys smh https://t.co/kQIdtBK7YM
— Ayobami (@dondekojo) January 20, 2020
Only a fool will believe this.
89 Yahoo boys. Y’all are a joke.What were they all doing in the club at once? Abi they were hosting Yahoo Boy PTA meeting? Rubbish!!!
— I R U N N I ∆ ™ (@Irunnia2) 20 January 2020
in a nutshell, NIGERIANS STOP GPING TO NIGHTCLUB abi? SARS will invade NIGHTCLUB, Police will invade NIGHTCLUB, EFCC invades NIGHTCLUB. Do our security services know the meaning of INTELLIGENCE
— Ayodele Daramola (@AyodeleDaramola) 20 January 2020
Where didi he get money to buy Nike 720 (fake one, though.)? He must be a yahoo boy, too. He can afford fake Nike air max 720. Where did he get money yo buy that kind of shoe?? He should be wearing rubber mai ruwa shoe. Arrest the guy pic.twitter.com/WcDLBZvVWb
— Nzubechukwu (@Zubby96) 20 January 2020
You should interrogate them and release those who were just there by default. Club is a public place where you have assorted crowds. Stop painting every one with the same brush. Be more scientific and professional in your operations Mr. EFFC
— ‘Femi Adefemiwa (@Femi_Adefemiwa) 20 January 2020
