BY RITA OYIBOKA
A two-time Chairman of the Delta State Traditional Medicine Board, Dr. Ogbogodor Ogumu, has debunked claims that native doctors (traditional healers) are fuelling internet fraud, popularly known as Yahoo Yahoo.
He instead pointed fingers at religious institutions, particularly churches, as the enablers.
Dr. Ogumu, speaking during an interview with The Pointer, said the accusation that traditional medicine practitioners are aiding cybercriminals is largely unfounded and unfair.
“In the case of Yahoo boys mingling with traditional doctors, I tell them: if anyone is caught doing medicine for Yahoo boys, they’ll face the consequences,” he said.
He added that, to the best of his knowledge, no herbalist or traditional healer under his jurisdiction has been caught aiding fraudsters. “What I hear is that they go to churches to pray. When they collect money from Oyinbo (foreigners), they go and buy musical instruments for the church.”
Dr. Ogumu questioned why no one seems to raise the same level of suspicion toward churches, even though they receive large donations and gifts from fraudsters.
“I’ve never seen a traditional medicine practitioner say, ‘A Yahoo boy bought me a car’ or ‘A Yahoo boy bought land for me.’ I’ve never heard such,” he noted.
Explaining how his practice operates, Dr. Ogumu revealed that when clients come for what he calls “favour medicine,” there is no foolproof way of knowing whether they are involved in fraudulent activities.
“You cannot know. They’ll simply say, ‘Please, I need a favour medicine.’ You won’t ask if he’s a Yahoo boy. The questions you’ll ask are: Who is your father? Where are you from?”
He outlined the procedures in his clinic, which include proper documentation. “In my clinic, I will take down their name, phone number, and the date to do the medicine. I’ll write down the list of items they are to buy, and they’ll sign that list as confirmation,” he said.
Dr. Ogumu maintained that any gift brought afterwards is unsolicited and not an indication of complicity. His remarks come amid increasing concerns over the perceived link between ritual practices and cybercrime in Nigeria, particularly among youth seeking quick wealth.
