A recent report by Punch, titled, “ICYMI: Fear of ‘Yahoo boys’ has made us stop wearing pants – Women in Delta students’ communities”, reveals the state of things in Delta state over allegations that some ritualists, also known as ‘Yahoo boys’, have been stealing female underwear.
According to the report, the underwear are sometimes stolen at gunpoint and these cases are rampant around campuses of tertiary institutions in Delta State. It was learnt that the underwear of girls and women, between 14 and 35, are considered ‘hot cakes’ by the ritualists. Used pants reportedly sells for as much as N350,000, and the price could be higher if it is confirmed to have body fluids.
As a result of this, many ladies in the affected areas in Delta have been protecting themselves against this danger. And one of the ways employed is by going out without wearing pants.
“Since the news got to us, three of my friends have stopped wearing pants. We heard that last week, on Anwai Road, at around 8pm, two men forcibly collected a young lady’s pants”, Esther, a student of the Delta State University said.
Sandra, a 22-year-old female student of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba, said there is fear because the whole situation is crazy to everyone.
“I have stopped wearing pants whenever I am going out, and that goes for some of my friends too to prevent ourselves from being victims of these evil people. When they collect someone’s pants, it is the end for that person. It happened to one lady in Umuagwu quarters of Asaba. Her family has taken her to church for healing because she has been behaving abnormally. I have also stopped going out with people I don’t know their background, especially those with flashy cars.”
A lady, Jenifer, who is said to have fallen victim of this menace was allegedly taken to a traditional healing home but eventually died.
In Abraka, Ughelli, Ozoro and Warri, some ladies have resulted to sprinkling their pants with oil that had been blessed by preachers.
“Some women sprinkle their pants with ‘anointed oil’. Some of us have stopped hanging our pants on washing lines outside. Since we heard the news, we have been hanging our pants in our bathrooms…. We are also mindful of what our visitors could do so we take precautions. We understand that these ‘boys’ have agents who sneak into houses to steal pants and brassieres,” Efe said.
In Ogwushi-Uku Polytechnic in Aniocha North Local Government Area of the state, it was learnt that female students have stopped wearing undies to their boyfriends’ places. They have also started avoiding lonely routes during the day and at night because of the reports that they are threatened at gun points to hand over their pants.
“I know that many ladies on this campus now visit their boyfriends without putting on underwear. For instance, my friend, Chida, has stopped wearing pants,” Cynthia, a National Diploma Two student said.
Some ritualists reportedly go about with new pants and when they meet ladies that do not have pants on, they will give them pants to wear and collect them back, at gunpoint.
In fact, some churches have also started advising their female members to be mindful of where they keep their pants.
The Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Andrew Aniamaka confirmed the development, noting that the command would deal with the crime in the state. He also urged ladies to be security conscious at all times.
