Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, director-general of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), says some politicians are using internet fraudsters, popularly known as Yahoo boys, to launder illicit funds and sabotage Nigeria’s financial system.
Speaking in Abuja on Monday at a national joint security press briefing, Issa-Onilu said there is a “cordial relationship” between the fraudsters and political elites.
He said: “We must also acknowledge when people complain of EFCC going after Yahoo boys and things like that.
“People have not understood the nexus that exists between the Yahoo boys and people who are politically exposed using the Yahoo boys for money laundering.
“So when they go after Yahoo boys, it’s not just the Yahoo boys. They are important leads to actually prosecuting the people who are politically exposed.”
He said the federal government remains committed to anti-money laundering reforms that promote financial integrity and enhance Nigeria’s international credibility.
Issa-Onilu also highlighted coordinated efforts by security and anti-graft agencies to combat a range of threats, including drug abuse, arms proliferation, and irregular migration.
According to him, the Nigerian Police Force conducted 326 operations resulting in 2,109 arrests, the rescue of 175 kidnapped victims, the neutralisation of 78 terrorists, and the dismantling of six arms trafficking operations.
He said the NDLEA carried out 1,572 raids, seized 2.9 million kilograms of narcotics, and recovered additional drugs, including 520 kilograms of tramadol and 7.35 kilograms of methamphetamine.
On arms recovery, Issa-Onilu said 12 AK-47 rifles, two general-purpose machine guns (GPMGs), and over 2,200 rounds of ammunition were seized.
He added that NAFDAC intercepted 10 containers of tramadol.
He said Nigeria is working through international partnerships and domestic vigilance to block human trafficking and irregular migration.
According to him, the Nigerian Immigration Service is driving identity governance with the support of the UN and ECOWAS.
He called on Nigerians to unite in the protection of national infrastructure and security assets, describing national security as a “collective responsibility”.
