Why ‘Yahoo Yahoo’ thrives in our society —Religious leaders

Some religious leaders have been blamed for the illegalities perpetrated by youths engaged in internet fraud popularly known as ‘Yahoo Yahoo’.
While the Convener of the Apostolic Grace Network, Apostle Lawrence Bamilaw accused traditional religion practitioners of providing support to these fraudsters, the Chairman of the Traditional Religion Worshippers Association in Osun State, Dr Oluseyi Atanda said trading blame would not solve the problem of internet fraudsters.
On his part, National Missioner, Al-Habibiyah Islamic Society, Uztas Fuad Adeyemi, said everyone must proffer a solution to the menace.
Apostle Bamilaw had fingered some traditional religion practitioners of preparing diabolical charms for the Yahoo boys to operate.

In a chat with newsmen, the cleric said many traditional religion practitioners provided support to these fraud stars, by preparing diabolical charms to hyponotise their victims.
He also noted that these acts encourage more youths to embrace the act as a business.
He sought the cooperation of traditional rulers and heads of traditional religion to withdraw the support enjoyed by ‘Yahoo Yahoo’ boys, saying such a move would stop the proliferation of internet fraud as a means of livelihood in the South West especially in Nigeria.
“Yahoo Yahoo’ practice is on the rise because of the backing the youth involved in the act enjoys from traditionalists. The herbalists give these young boys the necessary charms to dupe their victims and every successful venture encourages others to join the bandwagon."
“I am using this platform to appeal to traditional rulers, especially in the South West to prevail on traditionalists to stop giving support to Yahoo boys if we want the trend to reduce or stop."
“Many of these youths do not possess the skill to dupe foreigners but the charms given to them help hypnotize their victims to surrender their money without suspicion. As stakeholders, we can talk to each other and stop helping, the society would be better for it.”

However, the Chairman of the Traditional Religion Worshippers Association in Osun State, Dr Oluseyi Atanda said pointing accusing fingers would not solve the problem of internet fraud stars.
Atanda argued that all religious groups were guilty of social decadence in society.
He said: “Our society is in a deep mess and everyone should be blamed for it. This is not the time for blame trading but action."
“We have seen Pastors and Alfas enjoying criminal proceeds from young men without a legal means of livelihood. We have seen clerics providing support for criminals and in return, criminals sprayed them money in Churches and mosques. Trading blame will only worsen the situation and society will suffer for it."
“I think it is time for Nigerians to stop worshipping money, it is time to start asking questions, it is time to return to tradition; we must rejig our Omoluabi ethos for our society to become a haven of peace and prosperity."
“The time to act is now, stakeholders must come to the roundtable, discuss a way out of this societal mess or things will grow worse than it is now.”

On his part, the National Missioner, Al-Habibiyah Islamic Society, Uztas Fuhad Adeyemi said the society has already suffered much more than to be trading blame, saying everyone is guilty of aiding crime.
According to him, everyone must rise to the challenge and proffer solutions to the menace in different ways they could than allowing the menace to continue to thrive.
Adeyemi said: “We have decided to embark on training of youths in using the internet positively than for crime. We are teaching them to use the internet to earn a livelihood legally."
“We want our youths to make good use of the internet. What they have been using negatively, we want to turn it into positive that will be beneficial for the country and their family."
“All of us should help return sanity to the society by emphasising good character above wealth and discourage illegalities among youths to ensure a better society for our children.”