A 23-year-old man, Victor Oruba Nwite, has admitted during police interrogation that he runs an internet fraud scheme popularly known as “Yahoo Yahoo” and recruits young men into the criminal network following allegations of abduction, torture, and forced cybercrime training in Enugu State.
Nwite, who hails from Inyimagu community in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, made the confession in a video obtained during questioning by investigators after three young men allegedly escaped from a residential building in Helius Estate along the Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway.
The escapees—identified as Joseph Ibangwu, Izuchukwu Junior, and Miracle Tochukwu—had earlier alleged that they were held captive for nearly three months, beaten, starved, and compelled to engage in cybercrime activities.
During interrogation, Nwite admitted involvement in online fraud and recruitment of accomplices.
“I won’t lie to you, I needed boys,” he told investigators when questioned about his relationship with the victims.
When pressed further on what he needed them for, he responded: “For Yahoo, sir.”
He also acknowledged running a scheme involving impersonation of military personnel to defraud foreign victims online, a practice he described as “military dating.”
“Military dating is just like impersonating that you are a military man,” he said, adding that he targeted “anybody online,” with a focus on foreigners.
Investigators further asked whether he specifically defrauded foreign nationals.
“Yes, sir,” he replied.
Nwite also admitted to recruiting young men into the operation, claiming that one of the escapees, Miracle, was introduced to him through a contact identified as Edu before being taken to his residence.
According to him, he provided accommodation and food to the recruits.
“He came to my house and then I offered him where to sleep, food to eat. I cooked for him,” he said.
However, accounts from the victims paint a more disturbing picture, alleging that they were lured from Ebonyi State under the guise of legitimate employment, only to be introduced to cybercrime upon arrival in Enugu.
One of the victims, Izuchukwu Junior, said he was promised a job in a newly established office and had his transportation funded by a supposed recruiter.
He alleged that upon arrival, he was shown a laptop and instructed to begin online work.
“I told him I was no longer interested and wanted to go home, but he said I must pay N300,000 for food before I could leave,” the victim claimed.
The escapees further alleged prolonged torture, including beatings with canes, electric cables, mop sticks, and iron rods, as well as restricted movement and surveillance within the building.
They also claimed they were fed once daily and monitored through installed CCTV cameras, with all exits allegedly locked.
The situation reportedly escalated when one of the occupants managed to escape, prompting others to flee the premises through the same route before seeking help within the estate.
The incident has triggered public outrage following the circulation of images and videos showing the victims with visible injuries.
Civil rights group, the Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN), has petitioned Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, demanding a full investigation and prosecution of all persons connected to the alleged abuse and cybercrime network.
The group described the allegations as “heinous” and called for urgent action to prevent similar occurrences.
Meanwhile, the Enugu State Police Command has yet to issue an official statement on the suspect’s admissions, while the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps confirmed awareness of the incident but declined to provide further details.
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