Sir: An indication of the depths to which societal values and morality have sunk, is the legitimisation of ‘yahoo’ in the eyes of the average Nigerian. To the uninitiated, ‘yahoo’ is the Nigerian slang for cybercrime. Worse still, is the proliferation of ‘yahoo’ schools across the nation. These are schools where youngsters are taught the rudiments of ‘yahoo.’ Shockingly, these ‘yahoo’ schools are owned by youths in their mid to late 20s, and their “students” include people barely out of their teens.
Cybercrime remains one of the dangers of digital transformation in Nigeria and across the globe. Reports show that yearly loss to cybercrime globally hit $6 trillion at the end of 2021. The domestic instrument Nigeria is using to fight this menace is the Cybercrime Act of 2015. The provisions of that law, however, have not by themselves served as a deterrent to cybercriminals as their rank appears to be swelling, to the point of being systematised with ‘yahoo’ schools.
Interestingly, the knowledge and energy used to perpetuate fraud online can also be used to make money online legitimately. Instead of engaging in ‘yahoo’ and establishing ‘yahoo’ schools, why don’t the youths channel such knowledge and energy to make money online legitimately and establish Information Technology schools so as to impart their knowledge to others?
The societal worship of money, whether licit or illicit, is responsible for this ugly trend. Mothers of ‘yahoo’ boys now have associations and were reported to have protested some time ago demanding the release of their wards who were arrested by the anti-graft agency. Prominent musicians sing the praises of ‘yahoo’ boys who flaunt their ill-gotten wealth on social media, and have now become the role models of many youths in Nigeria. We need a reset of the societal value system, which will elevate integrity and hard work above easy and ill-gotten wealth. And stiffer punishment by the judiciary to dissuade those who might be inspired to follow in their footsteps.
•Peter Ovie Akus,
akuspeter@gmail.com