The police command in Lagos says it uncovered and dismantled an internet fraud training facility known as ‘Yahoo School’, operating out of the Iju area.

The command’s spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed this in a statement on Tuesday.

“During the successful operations, the police detectives apprehended four Yahoo experts, of ages 22, 23, 25, and 26, who were running the notorious school. The other six suspects, who are between the ages of 12 and 26, are their criminal trainees, all of whom were undergoing training in cybercrime and fraud.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the principal suspects of the facility recruited their trainees from Anambra, engaged them to commit internet fraud and other related crimes.

“The proceeds from their fraudulent activities were being confiscated by the principal suspects,” the police statement said.

According to the command, all suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, for further discreet investigation and prosecution while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other accomplices.

“Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the sponsors who financed the trainees’ enrolment in the school, as well as the owner of the facility where these criminal and illegal activities took place.

“The owner of the facility is hereby warned, in his own interest to turn himself in immediately at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba, from wherever he is hiding,” added the statement.

Mr Hundeyin said the command would ensure that all suspects were charged to court for prosecution upon the conclusion of the investigation in the case.

The police spokesman said the 12-year-old suspect among them, with healing marks of injuries on his body, was receiving medical treatment.

“In line with due process of the law, the underage suspect, with injuries allegedly inflicted on him by the main principal suspect to compel him into the commission of the criminal acts, is being given medical attention.

“He is kept in protective custody till his relatives are identified and reunited with him,” added Mr Hundeyin.

Mr Hundeyin encouraged the public, who had fallen victim to the fraudulent activities of the criminal syndicate, to go to the SCID, Yaba, with their complaints.

(NAN)