The Grandfathers Of Today’s “Yahoo Boys” Were Less Audacious

The grandfathers of today’s “Yahoo boys” were less audacious, and had a thing for image management.

FESTAC in the Late 90s housed a couple of them, they were the petty bourgeoisie of the era, who continued in a frantic chase for social validation and did a lot to appear legitimate.

I recall in the early Y2K (this millennium) they formed clubs. The one in FESTAC was very organised, and had persons you may consider “respected” in their membership. From the Police, to the Military, Medical and Legal profession. I once attended their end of the year bash at a pub on 6th Avenue. It was a lavish party replete with enticing vanity.

The FESTAC clubs of today’s “Yahoo boy’s” grandfathers were active in community service. At some point, they donated patrol vans to the Area E Police Command in the area, and some other opportunistic charity. They, at some point, worked with the Police authorities in the area to clamp down on other freelance Yahoo boys, who were not members of the club, or any other. And the reason was simple, part of the membership fees were remitted to Police authorities, who in turn provided them with credible cover.

So, in the days when the Police searched young boys with back packs along First gate, Agboju 2nd gate, and Alakija 3rd gate, invaded cyber Cafés, it was all to arrest non club members of “Organised Internet fraudster groups”, get them to become members and earn returns from their slush funds.

TBC…

– Mazi Ejimofor Opara writes from Awka, Anambra State.