Founder of Salvation Ministries, Pastor David Ibiyeomie, has taken a strong stance against internet fraud, warning individuals involved in the practice not to bring proceeds from their activities into his church as offerings.
Ibiyeomie issued the warning during a church service, where he questioned the presence of internet fraudsters among worshippers despite the criminal nature of their activities.
The clergyman maintained that Salvation Ministries had no need for money obtained through fraud, insisting that proceeds from internet scams would not be accepted as legitimate offerings.
He particularly criticised individuals who engage in internet fraud while simultaneously participating in church activities without showing remorse for their actions.
There Are Yahoo Boys In Church
“Do you know that there are Yahoo boys inside church? They have no conscience; they are yahooing somebody, and they are very happy in church,” he said.
The pastor argued that the popular term “Yahoo” should not be used to disguise the nature of the offence, stressing that taking another person’s money through deception amounts to stealing.
“Yahoo is stealing. Is it your money? I don’t care how you paint it, Yahoo is stealing,” Ibiyeomie said.
He went further to direct anyone involved in internet fraud who attends his church to take their offerings elsewhere.
We Don’t Want Your Offering
“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 stated.
Ibiyeomie also narrated the case of a professor at Rivers State University who, according to him, lost his savings after allegedly falling victim to internet fraud and subsequently collapsed and died.
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Using the incident to underscore the consequences of cybercrime, the cleric urged people to distance themselves from individuals involved in internet fraud.
His comments reflect his broader condemnation of the practice and his position that money obtained through fraudulent means should not be legitimised by presenting it as religious giving.