The Erosion of Morality: The dangerous rise of yahoo yahoo boys and hook-up girls
By Yusuf Abubakar Onumoh
In contemporary Nigeria, the social fabric appears to be rapidly unraveling, with the proliferation of two insidious phenomena that are now taking on dangerous proportions—yahoo yahoo boys and hook-up girls. These twin evils, which reflect the deeper malaise in our society, represent a lethal cocktail of internet fraud and prostitution, fueled by the desires for wealth, status, and a perverse sense of achievement. Both crimes are propelled by a shared notion of “get rich quick,” where ethics and morality are sacrificed on the altar of selfish indulgence. This disturbing trend is both a consequence of and a reflection of a society in decline—where the absence of leadership, the erosion of core values, and the abdication of parental responsibility have combined to bring about this alarming situation.
As the name yahoo yahoo suggests, these individuals, mostly young men, are involved in internet frauds—manipulations and scams that trick unsuspecting victims into financial loss, often using deceptive means such as fake business deals, romance scams, and phishing schemes. What was once the province of a few crafty and underhanded individuals has now become an overwhelming cultural shift, as young school leavers—sometimes even those who are already employed—are now enamored with the allure of internet fraud. The acquisition of an Android phone or laptop, tools to execute their illicit activities, has become their ultimate aspiration.
“Desperation for wealth in a corrupt society breeds a new breed of criminals who are celebrated, not condemned,” said the late writer, Chinua Achebe. In today’s Nigeria, where unemployment is rampant, the aspiration of many youths is not to work hard and contribute to the development of the nation, but to engage in the morally bankrupt world of internet fraud. For these young men, the journey to fame and fortune is paved with manipulation and deceit. Ritual killings have even become an integral part of the yahoo yahoo phenomenon, with claims that certain evil forces must be appeased in order to succeed in the business of defrauding others. The once-worn masks of morality and decency have been discarded in favor of displays of wealth, from expensive cars like the Mercedes Benz C300 to the hiring of hook-up girls, all as a means of flaunting their ill-gotten gains. These assemblages of misfortune _”internet millipedes” apologies to Whole Soyinka_, have soiled the image of our country in substantial degrees as a people you cannot trust. With their signature dress like dreadlocks hair style, sagging trousers and high heels sneakers, their ubiquitous sight are displeasing.
But it is not only the yahoo yahoo boys who are complicit in this decline of societal values. Hook-up girls—women who engage in prostitution, often facilitated through the internet—are also a major symptom of this corrupt culture. They too are swept up in the pursuit of fast wealth, finding themselves caught in the web of transactional relationships with wealthy but morally bankrupt individuals. The culture of sexual exploitation has seeped into the mainstream, where young women, often without any sense of self-worth, subject themselves to degrading acts in exchange for material gains. What once may have been clandestine or hidden is now brazenly advertised, as these women use the same internet platforms that empower fraudsters to offer their services.
One cannot overlook the failure of leadership in all of this. As Achebe once remarked, “The only thing we have learned from history is that we do not learn from history.” The government, once entrusted with the mandate to protect and nurture its citizens, has failed to enact policies and provide the necessary leadership to stamp out these rising evils. Corruption within law enforcement agencies has allowed these practices to thrive, with even the security forces looking the other way or, worse, actively colluding with the perpetrators. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), despite its commendable efforts, cannot be left to fight this battle alone. Other agencies must unite in their efforts to counteract the rise of internet fraud and human trafficking that is tearing at the very fabric of our nation.
Furthermore, the failure of our educational institutions to instill values of integrity, diligence, and personal responsibility has only exacerbated the problem. The pursuit of a degree or formal education is no longer seen as a gateway to personal success and national development. Instead, many young people are being socialised into believing that they can achieve great wealth without the need for hard work, education, or character. The desire for instant gratification has replaced the ideals of personal growth, discipline, and moral fortitude.
What is most disturbing, however, is the abdication of responsibility by parents. In their pursuit of material wealth and the desire to keep up with the Joneses, many parents have neglected their duty to nurture and instill ethical values in their children. A child who grows up in an environment where money is worshipped above all else, where the line between right and wrong is blurred, is more likely to join the ranks of the yahoo yahoo boys or embrace the life of a hook-up girl. When parents do not model hard work, integrity, and the importance of contributing to the community, they inadvertently give their children permission to follow a path of deceit and exploitation.
As a society, we must come to terms with the fact that the breakdown of values is not a spontaneous occurrence but the result of decades of neglect, bad governance, and the abdication of parental duties. In the words of Nelson Mandela, “There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.” The youth are the future of any nation, and when we allow them to be led astray by greed and exploitation, we are sealing our collective fate.
The Nigerian government must take immediate action to address this spiraling culture of fraud and prostitution. Stronger law enforcement, stiffer penalties for cybercrime, and more robust public education campaigns on the dangers of internet fraud are just some of the steps that need to be taken. At the same time, there needs to be a national conversation about the role of the family in fostering ethical behavior, and parents must step up to the plate to raise their children with a sense of purpose, responsibility, and integrity.
As Achebe once said, “A man who does not know where the rain began to beat him cannot say where he dried his body.” We must trace the roots of our problems to their source, and in doing so, create a society where integrity, hard work, and respect for others once again become the cornerstones of our national identity.
Yusuf Abubakar Onumoh PhD, is a Policy Development Expert and Public Affairs Commentator
