Edo moves against ‘Yahoo boys’ with anti-cultism law expansion

The Edo State Government has disclosed plans to widen the enforcement of its anti-cultism laws to cover internet fraudsters, popularly known as “Yahoo boys,” as part of efforts to tackle rising criminal activities in the state.

DAILY POST reports that the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, disclosed this on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, during the quarterly media parley in the state.

DAILY POST recalls that the state government had in 2025 enacted the Secret Cult and Similar Activities (Prohibition) Law, 2025, which prescribes stiffer penalties for cult-related offences, including jail terms and property confiscation.

Afegbua, while reacting to the issue of insecurity in the state and the killing of a 200-level Political Science part-time student of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), identified as Mr. Alexander, in the penultimate week at the front gate of the institution, opined that the killing was linked to internet fraud.

He stated that the killing was attributed to a breach in the internet fraud business.

According to him, “A young man who went to write his exam at the University of Benin, we were told, was killed by gunmen suspected to be his business colleagues. It was said he had some money they made as a group and the money was lodged in his account.

“The colleagues said, ‘Come, let us share the money.’ He said, ‘I am coming today, tomorrow, today, tomorrow,’ and the others were feeling that the guy was trying to play them.

“So they had to trace him to the university environment after he finished writing his exam. According to information, they attacked him in such a gruesome manner.

“They’ve killed him now. The only thing I don’t know is whether those who killed him were able to get the money. I don’t understand. You have exterminated the life of a young man.

“It is also part of what we are talking about when it comes to the issue of youths engaging in Yahoo Yahoo business, cultism and what have you,” he said.

He added that while the investigation is ongoing, some suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident.

He expressed optimism that the security agencies would pursue the matter to a logical conclusion.

Afegbua, who reiterated Governor Monday Okpebholo-led government’s zero-tolerance approach to cultism and other criminal activities in the state, advised that people can go about their normal activities without bloodletting.

“The state government has made it and will continue to make it clear that our approach to cultism is zero tolerance. You can do your activity, your meetings and all of that without bloodletting.

“What would be the rationale if you have to belong to a particular cult or a group and what you do is to be sucking yourselves’ blood? It doesn’t make sense.

“So, we are calling on the Edo public that our zero tolerance to cultism is still very much in force, and no amount of persuasion will take our eyes off that particular decision.

“We are even going to add the issue of Yahoo Yahoo to our anti-cultism law now because we are seeing that because cultism is being tackled head-on, they now hide under the auspices and umbrella of Yahoo Yahoo to wreak havoc,” he added.

He, however, called on youths to channel their energy into ventures that would motivate them to maximise their potential for good and positive outcomes that would deepen the well-being of society.

He vowed that no amount of frustration from members of the public would deter the state government from fighting cultism, assuring that the government would continue its commitment to ensuring that the social crisis is nipped in the bud.

Edo moves against ‘Yahoo boys’ with anti-cultism law expansion