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A suspected internet fraudster — often referred to as a "Yahoo boy" — was discovered hiding inside the ceiling of a First City Monument Bank (FCMB) branch in the Secretariat area of Lagos. According to reports, the suspect allegedly broke into the bank’s system in a failed overnight hacking operation that now has authorities and cybersecurity experts raising serious concerns. You can watch the video on our Facebook page by clicking here or search Prudentj2 on Facebook, Don't forget to follow us for more updates!
The suspect, whose identity has yet to be confirmed, reportedly entered the FCMB branch yesterday during regular business hours, posing as a normal customer. Surveillance footage and eyewitness accounts confirm that he walked into the banking hall without raising suspicion and made his way to the customer restroom. There, he locked the door from the inside and began his carefully calculated move — climbing through the ceiling tiles and positioning himself above the bank's main office section.
As the bank closed operations and staff exited the building at the end of the day, no one noticed that an intruder had lodged himself in the ceiling. Sources claim he waited patiently until nightfall before climbing down into the office area, where he then locked himself in from the inside and began what appears to be a pre-planned attempt to breach the bank’s internal computer systems.
When staff resumed work this morning, they were immediately alarmed by the unusual sight of the office door being bolted from the inside. Multiple knocks yielded no response, prompting security to force the door open. What they found inside shocked everyone present: office furniture had been tampered with, several system units had been moved or disconnected, and one staff computer had a strange prompt on its screen that read: “Restarting… Click OK to accept.”
Realising a serious security breach might have occurred, the bank's internal security team quickly swept the premises and found clear evidence that someone had used the ceiling space to gain illegal access. As they traced the movement, the alleged suspect was discovered hiding behind a server cabinet, exhausted, confused, and reportedly pleading for mercy.
Shortly after his discovery, videos began surfacing online showing the young man surrounded by security operatives. In one clip, he’s seen confessing to acting alone, begging not to be harmed, and admitting that he had hidden inside the bank overnight to try and gain access to sensitive systems.
Eyewitnesses at the scene described the atmosphere as tense and chaotic. “Nobody could believe it,” one witness said. “The fact that he came in during working hours, hid in the ceiling, and planned to hack the bank — it felt like something from a movie.”
A senior bank staff member, who spoke under anonymity, said the bank’s IT department had already begun conducting an emergency audit of its internal systems to determine the extent of attempted tampering or data breach. “Right now, we are trying to assess the impact, if any,” the staff member said. “It appears he didn't get very far. But still, this is a very serious incident.”
The suspect was later handed over to local authorities and is now being held at a nearby police station for further investigation. According to sources within law enforcement, preliminary interrogation suggests the young man may have been working with outside collaborators who possibly monitored him from a remote location.
The Nigerian Police Force has not released an official statement as of the time of this report, but sources say the case may be escalated to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for deeper cybercrime investigations, given the high-risk nature of the attempted breach.
Reactions on social media have been swift and fiery, with hashtags like #BankCeilingYahooBoy, #FCMBHack, and #NaijaCyberDrama trending across Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok. Many Nigerians expressed shock at the creativity — albeit criminal — of the method, while others questioned how internal surveillance failed to detect someone hiding in the ceiling overnight.
One user wrote: “Only in Nigeria can someone hide inside a bank ceiling overnight to hack systems. Na movie we dey act?” Another commented: “This is not just theft, this is a full-blown cybersecurity threat. FCMB must step up its internal surveillance!”
Others used the moment to highlight the growing desperation among Nigerian youths in the face of unemployment and economic hardship. “This is the result of a failed system. A youth decides to break into a bank not with a gun, but with a laptop. God help Nigeria,” a comment on Facebook read.
Digital security analysts are now warning banks and financial institutions to review their physical and network security protocols urgently. “This incident may have failed, but it highlights a very dangerous trend. Cybercriminals are evolving and mixing physical intrusion with digital attacks. Nigerian banks need to be ten steps ahead,” said a Lagos-based IT expert.
Meanwhile, FCMB is yet to release an official press statement addressing the situation. As investigations continue, the public is being urged to refrain from spreading unverified information while security agencies carry out due process.
This developing story raises critical questions about how secure Nigeria’s financial institutions truly are — not just from online attacks but also from intrusions that come in through the ceiling.
Stay with us for more updates as this story unfolds.
