The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has raised fresh concerns over the growing rate of cybercrime among Nigerian university students, claiming that six out of every 10 undergraduates are involved in internet fraud.
Olukoyede made the statement on Tuesday during the opening of the 8th Biennial Conference of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-Owned Universities in Nigeria (COPSUN) held in Kano. The conference focused on the theme, “Unlocking the Potentials of Artificial Intelligence: University Governance, Internationalisation and Rankings.”
According to the EFCC boss, recent investigations and field operations by the anti-graft agency revealed widespread student participation in cybercrime, popularly known as “Yahoo Yahoo.” He described the trend as disturbing and warned that it poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s future leadership and economic development.
Olukoyede also alleged that some students arrested during cybercrime crackdowns had used illicit proceeds to compromise academic processes, including placing lecturers on payroll to influence results and institutional decisions.
He referenced the December 2024 arrest of 792 suspected cyber fraudsters in Lagos, noting that a significant number of those apprehended were students. The EFCC chairman said the incident highlighted the scale of organised cybercrime networks operating across the country.
The anti-corruption chief further expressed concern over the rise of “Yahoo Plus,” a form of internet fraud allegedly mixed with ritual practices, and called on university authorities to collaborate more closely with security agencies.
Olukoyede urged institutions to adopt artificial intelligence tools for payroll monitoring, procurement checks, fraud detection and academic integrity systems. He added that the EFCC had already begun integrating AI into digital forensics and financial tracking operations.
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