Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) have arrested a suspected internet fraudster, popularly called a Yahoo Boy, who specialises in luring ladies via dating sites for clandestine purposes.

Parading the suspect, the Commandant of the NSCDC Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, Dr. Oludola Odumosu, said that the suspect, 30-year-old Joseph Efe from Edo State, was apprehended by officers of the agency while trying to escape from Top Rank Hotel in Anua, where he had tied up his female victim after seizing her mobile phone, stripping her naked, and binding her hands, feet, and mouth.

He said, “Efe was arrested after coming out of the hotel premises, allegedly to meet an accomplice, leaving his victim tied up in the hotel room. But for the eagle-eyed men of the NSCDC FCT Command, who noticed his suspicious movement and tried to stop him for questioning.

“But instead of stopping, the suspect took to his heels after sighting the gallant officers. He was chased, caught, and led back to his hotel room, where the naked girl was found with her hands and legs bound with transparent adhesive tape.”

According to him, “Preliminary investigation reveals that the suspect is a serial fraudster and a thief who specialises in luring ladies on dating sites, one of which is ‘Coded Runs,’ into hotel rooms with the intent of robbing them of their phones and making withdrawals from the victims’ accounts.

“His first victim upon arrival in Abuja from Lagos was another lady whom he invited to his hotel room at FAB Hotel, where he first lodged. However, he did not succeed with her because the lady was able to put up some resistance.”

He said the suspect confessed to being a Yahoo Boy and that he had not been making much money recently, so he opted to hunt for young girls on dating sites.

Dr. Odumosu explained further that the suspect, who operates between Port Harcourt, Lagos, Benin, and Abuja, met the victim on one of the dating sites and later invited her for a meet-up after he fled FAB Hotel, where security had been alerted following the escape of his first victim.

Regarding a viral video of the naked victim in circulation, the Commandant said, “Let me make it abundantly clear that the video in circulation regarding this incident was not shot by operatives of the NSCDC. We only became aware of its existence after it went viral.”

He added that the suspect would be handed over to the Nigerian police for further action.

Responding to questions from journalists, the suspect, Efe, claimed that he only invited the lady to “spend some good time” together, but she resisted, so he tied her up and confiscated her Android phone to prevent her from calling for help before he escaped.

“I invited her to come so we could have fun and she would get paid. I took her phone so that she wouldn’t follow me when I was leaving. I asked her to take off her clothes too so that even if she unties herself and tries to follow me, by the time she puts on her clothes, I would be long gone,” the suspect said.

Also speaking, the victim (name withheld) said she agreed to meet him, but upon arrival, he began questioning her and later threatened her with death if she failed to cooperate. He then restricted her movement and tied her up before attempting to withdraw money from her bank account, but found that she had no money in the account. That was when he tried to abandon her and run away.

She said, “When he found out that I had no money, he booked a ride. When it was one minute away, he said his friend was outside, warning me not to make any move. I struggled to the window and started banging on it until help came my way.”

Meanwhile, three other suspects have also been arrested by the agency for vandalising and stealing armoured cables from a transformer and air conditioners (ACs) at various locations in the FCT.

Commandant Odumosu said the three would be handed over to relevant authorities for prosecution after proper profiling.