The founder and senior pastor of Salvation Ministries, Pastor David Ibiyeomie, has warned members of his church against engaging in internet fraud, popularly known as “Yahoo Yahoo.”
Speaking during a church service, the pastor said Yahoo boys were present in churches and questioned how people could defraud others and still feel comfortable worshipping God.
Ibiyeomie described Yahoo Yahoo as stealing, regardless of how it is presented or justified, and urged anyone involved in the practice to stop.
He also warned church members against associating with people involved in internet fraud, saying proceeds from the practice have caused serious harm to victims.
He said, “Do you know that Yahoo boys are inside church? Inside church! They have no conscience. Yahoo boys are… even in this church, there are Yahoo boys.”
ALSO READ: VIDEO: ‘You’re not a goat,’ Pastor Ibiyeomie warns members against chewing gum in church
According to him, internet fraud remains theft because the money obtained belongs to another person.
“It’s stealing, no matter how you put it. Yahoo is stealing. You are just colourising it. Yahoo is what? You are just stealing! Is it your money?” he said.
Ibiyeomie recounted the experience of a professor and electrical engineer from Rivers State University, whom he said was once a consultant at a site where he worked.
According to the pastor, the professor lost all the money in his bank account to internet fraudsters.
He said the incident had devastating consequences for the man, who he claimed later died after losing his savings.
Ibiyeomie said the incident demonstrated the human cost of internet fraud, particularly when fraudsters target people’s life savings, retirement benefits and other hard-earned money.
He said, “Every savings as a professor, all his savings, they duped him. Now, such a man will now come and say, ‘Boy, buy car. Get lost with your car.’ You can’t follow such a person.”
The pastor consequently advised members who associate with internet fraudsters to distance themselves from them.
“In case you are following such a person, separate from him now,” he said.
He also issued a strong warning to anyone involved in Yahoo Yahoo within his congregation, saying such individuals should worship elsewhere.
“And if in this church you are Yahoo, go to another church and give your offering. I don’t care how much you have. Go, go, go, go, go! Because you are killing people,” Ibiyeomie said.
He further criticised the justification often given by internet fraudsters that Yahoo Yahoo is a means of survival.
According to him, financial hardship should not be used as an excuse to take what belongs to another person.
“Some people say, ‘Stop this Yahoo,’ and they say, ‘For what? Na so man go take survive? Na so man go take eat?’ Now, we don’t want you to survive like that,” he said.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dc-xH0-KHdn/?stkn=M2FicXI5bDZsbjFm