The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has issued a strong warning against the growing trend of internet fraudsters resorting to traditional rituals in a bid to strengthen their illegal activities.
In a viral statement posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Friday, October 17, 2025, the Commission revealed that several cybercriminals, popularly known as “G boys,” have begun combining online fraud with spiritual practices. The EFCC made it clear that no form of ritual fortification can prevent offenders from being apprehended.
The post, which has garnered over 50,000 views and thousands of interactions, stated:
“G boys are now going spiritual, involving themselves in ritual and making it the new usual.
EFCC will come for any individual.
THE EAGLE IS WATCHING YOU.”
Also Read: Emohua Council Workers Protest Non-Payment of Salaries
Accompanying the message was a striking graphic depicting a hooded figure holding a calabash under a blood-red moon, directly facing the EFCC’s eagle emblem. Within hours, the hashtag #YahooBoysGoneSpiritual became one of Nigeria’s top trending topics.
According to the Commission, online fraud has evolved beyond traditional 419 email scams to more elaborate “Yahoo Plus Plus” operations that blend digital fraud with ritual practices, including sacrifices and incantations. In September, EFCC operatives raided a Lagos shrine that doubled as a scam base, leading to the arrest of 47 suspects and the freezing of $2 million worth of cryptocurrency assets.
The Central Bank of Nigeria’s 2025 Fraud Report also revealed that cybercrime losses have reached an estimated ₦1.2 trillion this year alone.
The EFCC reiterated that crime, whether aided by technology or superstition, will always attract legal consequences. The agency urged members of the public to report suspicious financial or ritual-related activities through its verified social media channels or by calling 0809 EFCC NIG.
For the Commission, the message remains firm: no ritual, charm, or spiritual protection can shield offenders from the law. The Eagle, it insists, remains ever vigilant.
