About 12 suspected internet fraudsters, popularly known as Yahoo Boys, have been arrested in Rivers State for allegedly burying a newborn baby alive.
The yahoo boys were arrested by the Port Harcourt Local Government Authority Area Security Watch and policemen following a tip-off from residents who saw a group of boys conducting incantation and digging at Andoni waterfront in Eagle Island, Rivers State capital, on Wednesday morning.
Goldennewsng gathered that the operation, which followed a tip-off, was in conjunction with the Rivers State Neighbourhood Watch.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the state Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed that an investigation is ongoing.
She told The Punch, “Yes, we can confirm the incident. They were arrested by the police with the help of vigilantes.
”The matter has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for proper investigation.”
Given his account of the incident, the Chairman of PLGA Security Watch, who doubles as Chief Security Officer of Eagle Island, Victor Ohaji, told the press that he alerted the Azikiwe Police Division in Diobi, Port Harcourt and the officials of the state neighbourhood Agency when he got the information.
He narrated that ”Thereafter, I immediately mobilised my men, but on getting to the spot where we were told the suspects were by the waterfront, the ‘yahoo’ boys’ had left.”
Ohaji said looking closely at the spot it was obvious something had been buried, so he directed his men to dig the ground, and there they found the lifeless body of a newborn baby boy.
He said his men, the police and neighbourhood men started coming to the area in search of the renegades, which they eventually sighted coming out of a hotel.
Ohaji stated, “When we dug the place, we saw a newborn baby, a bouncing baby boy. Very fine boy that they buried.
”Immediately, I called the Situation Officer of Eagle Island and informed him of our discovery so that he can relate to the Divisional Police Officer he is working with.
“Immediately, the police and neighbourhood watchmen joined us. So we started going around Eagle Island to see if we could find the suspects.
“We even moved from one hotel to another in the area, and lo and behold, we saw them coming out from a hotel. And as soon as we highlighted from the car, they (suspects) started running.
“So, we chased after them and apprehended them. There were twelve of them. So we took them to the police station and the baby.
“While we were there, the leader of this yahoo boys was shouting, ranting that his father is a Major General and that nothing will happen.
“He said even if they bury full human beings, nothing will happen. The boy went on ranting that his father was coming. So we handed them to the police.”
He pleaded with the state government to aid the outfit with vehicles and logistics to improve on the good work they are doing.
