The founder of Salvation Ministries, Pastor David Ibiyeomie, has warned internet fraudsters, popularly known as “Yahoo boys,” attending his church against giving their offerings there.
Ibiyeomie said the church does not need money obtained through internet fraud, describing the practice as theft.
The pastor issued the warning during a church service while speaking against internet fraud and the continued involvement of some churchgoers in the practice.
According to him, some internet fraudsters actively participate in church activities while remaining comfortable with money obtained by defrauding others.
“Do you know that there’s yahoo boys inside church, they have no conscience, they are yahoo somebody and they are very happy in church,” he said.
Ibiyeomie maintained that internet fraud amounts to stealing, regardless of how it is portrayed.
“Yahoo is stealing, is it your money? I don’t care how you paint it, yahoo is stealing,” the pastor said.
He specifically directed Yahoo boys in his congregation to take their offerings elsewhere, stressing that the church would not accept proceeds from internet fraud.
“In this church if you’re a yahoo, you will go to another church and give your offering, I don’t care how much you have,” he said.
The pastor also recounted the case of a professor at Rivers State University who he said was defrauded of his savings before eventually collapsing and dying.
He urged people associating with internet fraudsters to distance themselves from them, questioning why anyone would continue to support a practice he said had caused financial and emotional harm to victims.
