The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, has raised the alarm over alleged collaborations between certain political figures and cybercriminals, widely known as “Yahoo boys”, in laundering illicit funds and undermining Nigeria’s financial stability.
Speaking at a national joint security press conference held in Abuja on Monday, Issa-Onilu warned of the growing link between these internet fraudsters and the political elite.
He said: “We must also acknowledge when people complain of EFCC going after Yahoo boys and things like that. People have not understood the nexus that exists between the Yahoo boys and people who are politically exposed using the Yahoo boys for money laundering. So when they go after Yahoo boys, it’s not just the Yahoo boys. They are important leads to actually prosecuting the people who are politically exposed.”
Reiterating the federal government’s stance, he stressed its unwavering commitment to implementing reforms against money laundering that would enhance financial transparency and bolster Nigeria’s global reputation.
Issa-Onilu further noted that a collaborative strategy is being deployed by security and anti-corruption institutions to address threats such as drug trafficking, illegal arms circulation, and irregular migration.
Providing insight into recent security operations, he stated that the Nigerian Police Force had executed 326 missions leading to 2,109 arrests, the rescue of 175 hostages, the elimination of 78 terrorists, and the takedown of six weapons trafficking networks.
He also disclosed that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) conducted 1,572 raids, confiscated 2.9 million kilograms of illegal substances, and seized additional items, including 520 kilograms of tramadol and 7.35 kilograms of methamphetamine.
Issa-Onilu revealed that authorities recovered 12 AK-47 rifles, two general-purpose machine guns (GPMGs), and over 2,200 rounds of ammunition, while the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) intercepted ten containers filled with tramadol.
He pointed out that through global alliances and domestic monitoring, Nigeria is intensifying efforts to tackle human trafficking and irregular migration. He noted that the Nigerian Immigration Service, in collaboration with the United Nations and ECOWAS, is advancing identity governance systems.
Calling for national solidarity, Issa-Onilu emphasized the importance of collective responsibility in safeguarding critical infrastructure and preserving the nation’s security.
