Founder of Salvation Ministries, Pastor David Ibiyeomie, has warned internet fraudsters, popularly known as “Yahoo boys”, against bringing proceeds from their illicit activities into his church as offerings.
Ibiyeomie issued the warning during a church service, where he condemned internet fraud and said the church would not accept money obtained by defrauding others.
The cleric said some internet fraudsters attend churches and appear comfortable with proceeds obtained from victims.
“Do you know that there are Yahoo boys inside church? They have no conscience; they are yahooing somebody, and they are very happy in church,” he said.
Ibiyeomie described internet fraud as theft, arguing that taking money that belongs to another person remains stealing regardless of how it is presented.
“Yahoo is stealing. Is it your money? I don’t care how you paint it, Yahoo is stealing,” he said.
He specifically directed anyone involved in internet fraud within his congregation to take their offerings to another church.
“In this church, if you’re a Yahoo, you will go to another church and give your offering. I don’t care how much you have,” he said.
The pastor also recounted the case of a professor at Rivers State University who, according to him, was defrauded of his savings and subsequently collapsed and died.
He urged members of the congregation to distance themselves from people involved in internet fraud and warned against benefiting from proceeds of crime.