The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has busted an alleged ‘Yahoo academy’ in Abuja, arresting 31 suspected internet fraudsters.
The agency disclosed this in a statement shared via its official X account. According to the EFCC, the suspects, made up of two alleged ringleaders and several trainees, were apprehended while receiving training in internet fraud.
The commission said it recovered several items during the operation, including mobile phones, 18 laptops, and other electronic gadgets.
The EFCC said the operation was carried out on Thursday, April 9, 2026, adding that some of the trainees were reportedly lured from Benue State under false pretences.
“Investigation by the EFCC revealed that some of the interns were lured all the way from Benue State by the academy proprietors with the promise of job offers, but upon settling down at the facility, were handed communication devices, computers and software, setting the stage for their training in cyber fraud,” the statement reads in part.
The commission added that the recruits were confined within the facility, with strict movement restrictions and their phones seized to prevent communication with the outside world.
“To enforce compliance and dedication, the proprietors house the recruits in the academy and restrict their movements strictly within the perimeters of the facility and forcibly take possession of their mobile phones, thus totally cutting them off from the outside world,” it added.
It further disclosed that erring trainees were subjected to physical punishment, noting that the suspects would be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations
