Afikpo community in Ebonyi State has apprehended 17 young persons and banished them over money ritual practices.
The community’s Afikpo Traditional Youth Council in Afikpo Local Government Area of the state, said the affected residents were suspected to be internet fraudsters popularly known as Yahoo boys.
The suspects were arrested by a youth arm of the traditional ruling council of the community known as Isielia while allegedly performing rituals at Amaozara beach in the community over the weekend.
The 17 suspects were seen holding one white fowl each during the rituals when the youths got wind of the rituals and stormed the beach.
After arresting them, the internet fraudsters were sent packing by the youths.
Meanwhile, the people of community in their general meeting held at the weekend urged all Yahoo boys and girls in the area to relocate from the community immediately or be ready to face their wrath.
At the meeting held at Ogo Amangbala village square, various age grades in the area including Horris/Onikaras, Essas, Ekpuke Eto Ehugbo and the Umuelia (Ochighicha) attended it and the meeting directed the youths of Afikpo to go after the internet fraudsters and fish them out.
The spokesperson of the community, Chief Maurice Isu, during the meeting, excommunicated the arrested suspects and directed the youths (Isi Elia) to go to hotels and individual houses in Afikpo to ensure that the suspects and their accomplices were driven out of the community.
He further directed the youths to start vigilante checks in all the nooks and crannies of Afikpo and warned that any community that fails to constitute vigilante in the night would be sanctioned.
