The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has raised the alarm over the growing involvement of university students in cybercrime.
He alleged that an estimated six out of every 10 undergraduates in Nigeria might be engaged in internet fraud and related offences.
Olukoyede made this known on Tuesday while speaking at the 8th biennial conference of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-Owned Universities in Nigeria held in Kano. The conference focused on the theme, “Unlocking the potentials of artificial intelligence: University governance, internationalisation and rankings.”
According to the EFCC chairman, findings from the commission’s operations over the past year point to widespread participation of students in cybercrime activities, a trend he described as deeply troubling.
He attributed the situation to systemic failures within the university system, including weak oversight structures and poor accountability. Olukoyede also disclosed that many suspects arrested during recent EFCC operations were students, with some allegedly bribing lecturers to secure academic advantages, thereby undermining institutional integrity.
Citing a major operation in December 2024, he noted that a significant number of the 792 suspected cyber fraudsters apprehended in Lagos were undergraduates, highlighting the scale and organization of such criminal networks.
Olukoyede also expressed concern over the rise of “Yahoo Plus,” a form of cyber fraud that incorporates ritual practices, warning that the trend poses serious social and security risks.
He called on university administrators to strengthen internal controls and work more closely with law enforcement agencies to address the growing menace.
Emphasizing the broader implications, Olukoyede stated that universities lacking financial discipline cannot effectively produce credible professionals, stressing that the integrity of higher education institutions remained critical to national security.
