As luxury lifestyles become increasingly glamorised on social media and offline, more young women are finding themselves in relationships with boyfriends who flaunt lavish spending but offer little transparency about their sources of wealth. While these relationships can provide access to opulent living, they also come with a cloud of uncertainty and potential risks. RAHMAT OLADEJO, LOLA ESHO and STEPHEN ADEGBOYE speak with young ladies on their perceptions about dating young men that lead posh lifestyles that are overshadowed by concerns about how such wealth is acquired.
Oseji Stephanie
Dating someone with questionable wealth can feel unsettling, especially if you don’t know where their money is coming from. You might worry they could be involved in illegal activities, or even something as serious as rituals, depending on your cultural beliefs. It’s normal to want to feel safe and trust your partner, and if you have doubts about their lifestyle, it can cause stress. At the end of the day, your safety and peace of mind should come first. If you’re worried, it’s important to have a conversation or rethink the relationship.
Ajanaku Oluwatofunmi
I can never date anyone with questionable wealth. Of course, if I want to date someone at this stage, I’m not expecting him to be very rich, but when I see someone who is actually rich, I will want to know where they got the money from. They could be involved in money rituals and even other illegal things. Make dem no use me do example (they can’t use me as example of victim). They must have evidence of whatever work they’re doing or probably have very rich parents.
Olanipekun Iradat
Dating boys with questionable wealth might be very challenging because we are in a society that frowns at criminal activity like cybercrime, money laundering, drug trafficking, human trafficking etc. People involved in questionable activities face challenges, including being unable to spend freely, acquire properties in their names, staying mostly indoor because of the fear of being caught and they run from police, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) so it might be tiring having to run with your partner when being chased by police or the embarrassment when he’s being harassed in public and you can’t even do anything about it because you know he’s in involved in criminal activity.
I don’t think I’ll be able to date someone like that because I won’t be comfortable around him. I’m a person that appreciates public display of affection (PDA) but he won’t be able to love me in the light. Another important reason why I can’t date someone like that is the fear of being used (for rituals) because the guys involved in activities like this will go extra lengths just to keep the money coming. We see news of girls being used by their partners, so that fear won’t even allow me to do such a thing. They won’t be able to deal with the fact that they’ll also have to go through the “broke” phase. I’m not judging anyone dating people with questionable wealth though, because we all have different mindsets and their partners might not be involved in.
Usman Ummi
Dating someone with questionable wealth can definitely raise concerns about their lifestyle and choices. It’s natural to worry about potential involvement in unethical practices, like money rituals. It’s important to communicate openly and assess their values and background. Trust your instincts and prioritise your safety and well-being in any relationship.
Adeyemo Favour
Honestly, it’s a concern for me, and I’ve had my fair share of experiences. At first, it’s exciting to date someone who seems financially stable, but when things don’t add up, I start wondering. You know, it’s good to have fancy cars and luxurious lifestyle, but with no clear source of income? That’s a red flag! I’ve asked myself, “Is this guy involved in something shady?” or “Is he into money rituals?” It’s always scary, especially with all the stories you hear, but I’ve learned to trust my instincts and prioritise open communication. I ask questions, and if I’m not satisfied with the answers, I distance myself. Ultimately, I want someone with integrity, not questionable wealth. I deserve transparency and honesty in a relationship.
Ogunrin Oyinkansola
I can’t date someone without knowing his source of income. What if he’s into criminal activities that I don’t know? And moreover, I can’t be specific with the kind of job he’s doing, what if someone asks about the kind of job he’s doing and I don’t even have a good reply for such a question. There’s no way I won’t be scared because I don’t know where he’s seeing money from. The fear of being used as a sacrificial lamb for ritual is enough reason not to be in a relationship with a man with questionable wealth. The rate in which young guys are doing money rituals is alarming and scary so we have to be careful in our present society.
Ojofeyitimi Toyosi
First of all, I don’t think I can date guys with questionable money. I’m a very inquisitive person and I like to ask questions. No matter what, I will ask you for the source of your money and if your answers are not clear or good enough for me, then I’m not interested. I will definitely be worried and scared that he could be involved in money rituals, then trust issues set in, and what’s a relationship without trust. I don’t have experience in dating guys with questionable wealth, so I don’t know how I will feel but I don’t think I will ever be interested in guys with questionable wealth.
Bello Boluwatife
Dating a guy with questionable wealth can be scary because I don’t know where or what he’s doing to get the money. The first thing my mind would tell me is that this kind of person is a ritualist.
Alaka Daniella
Such a girl definitely knows what she’s getting into if her man gets her money through less than legal means. If she chooses to go ahead and be with him, she’s either very stupid or very brave. She should be prepared to face the consequences, if any arises.
Adigun Mary
I feel girls that are dating guys whose wealth is questionable are irresponsible, because they are aware of the consequences. Obviously, girls who go for those kinds of guys are after the money or operating under peer pressure. They want to belong to the high class forgetting that they can also be used when no one is left to use for their ritual.
Nwanze Chukwunonso
I feel like it’s due to a sense of wanting to belong, as some may not even be pressured to do that, but it’s just a low mentality. Why ask for the source when you can get barbecue, visits to boutiques and random vacations. As long as they are being cared for, although it makes me wonder if they’re not loved at home, but who cares right? Most of them enter such relationships with the allure of love. Trust me, Yahoo boys are not scammers by name because how do they believe someone who manipulates five people’s emotions at the same time and they call it simultaneous equations. A more sensible answer is that 18% of them fall in love blindly, 2% of them believe it’s for a good cause because there’s no job and he had to hustle. But you see the rest that make up the 80%, it is pure greed for what they can gain and they’re the ones that actually end up dead.
Adeeko Adetokunbo
I feel girls who date boys with questionable character lack something; it can be love from home and it can be lack of money. The human mind craves for things like this and sometimes people will look for any means to get it. They look at the benefits they get from it without thinking about the consequences. In the end, they will now regret it. Sometimes I wonder if they are just too dumb or naive because why would you date someone that manipulates people for a living. They are stupid, if you ask me.
Adiele Adaeze
I feel there might be so many reasons that contribute to that. Firstly, it’s possibly because they are not loved at home. As humans, we are emotional beings and at some point, we need that love and affection in our lives. If we notice that we don’t get that at home then we go elsewhere to look for it. Being with a guy who shows that kind of love they want to feel has already solved their problem even if they know his source of wealth.
Secondly, they might not actually be aware of the kind of work their boyfriends do. I mean dey no dey write am for forehead say such person na ritual killer (they don’t inscribe it on foreheads that this person is a ritual killer). All the same, the lady is also naive and doesn’t ask questions because if she asks questions about the guy’s source of wealth, at least she would get an answer. Even if the guy lies to her but she’s smart, she would be able to connect the dots and know that something is not right.
Another reason might be that the girls actually don’t care and just want the money. I know that most ladies who date Yahoo boys and appear as Iyawo Pablo know very well what their boyfriends are up to. Such a girl knows that he scams people for a living. Some of them have confidence and trust in their boyfriends to never harm them, until they are used as offerings and an avenue to acquire more wealth.
Nwobi Toluwalase
I think most of them are after their money because they would get them the latest stuff e.g. phone and other things. They are not even supposed to be close with them, but they are mostly after their money. Some of them might also think these guys love them so they do not expect the guys to use them for rituals.
Elizabeth Fatukasi
For me, “questionable wealth” can also be described as “immediate wealth.” Nowadays, the obsession with acquiring wealth and fame, often through fetish means, has become common, but I do not support it. Whether it involves charms or not, gaining wealth illegally or through dubious methods comes with serious negative consequences, which I believe everyone should avoid, as it rarely ends well. Because of the dangers involved, I don’t feel tempted by such pursuits. However, I recognise that many girls do fall victim to them.
Joy Ojo
Why wouldn’t I feel bad? Most of them don’t have clean hands at all. Even as their girlfriend, I won’t have peace of mind. How can I trust a 20-year-old guy buying a Benz and building houses?
