Four suspected internet fraudsters popularly known as Yahoo boys have been confirmed dead after reportedly taking an overdose of illicit drugs in Biogbolo community, Yenagoa, Bayelsa state capital.
According to the police, the incident happened at about 12am on Friday, while the men were celebrating a mysterious financial breakthrough. They died in an apartment rented by one of them known as Favour.
One Melvin, who claimed to be a friend of one of the deceased boys, told newsmen that they were trying to secure the release of the corpse of one of the victims, Favour, 19.
He said, “We believe that they were poisoned. We are here at Ekeki Police Station in company of Favour’s father to secure the release of his corpse for burial, but it is proving difficult after swearing to an Affidavit.
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“We gathered that they ate food they ordered which was delivered by a dispatch rider and they died. One of them who was in the toilet however survived because he did not eat from the meal.”
Another friend of the deceased boys, who pleaded anonymity, claimed that “they were much awake when we forced the security man to open the gate to their residence. Nelson (one of the deceased) was sitting on the chair but his head was on the ground with his vomit.
“Richie (another deceased) has his computer tab on in his hand and Yazz showed he was struggling. It clearly showed that they were poisoned.”
But the Commissioner of Police in Bayelsa State, Mr Benjamin Okolo, who confirmed the death of the four youths, attributed it to drug overdose.
He said, “They died of drug overdose. It is quiet unfortunate that they administered the drug themselves. They were five and the one that survived told us that they took two pills each and that he took one. This was why they died.”
