ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has come down hard on Ola Olukoyede, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), over his claim that nearly 60 per cent of Nigerian students are involved in cybercrime, describing the remark as reckless, damaging, and unacceptable.
In a strongly worded statement issued Wednesday by its National Public Relations Officer, Adeyemi Samson Ajasa, the student body said the allegation was sweeping, unsubstantiated, and lacking proper context.
According to NANS, the comment was “grossly insensitive” and unbecoming of a public official, warning that it unfairly criminalises millions of law-abiding Nigerian students working hard to build legitimate futures.
The association maintained that while cybercrime remains a real concern, broadly labelling students as fraudsters risks creating dangerous stereotypes, especially at the international level where Nigerian youths seek scholarships, grants, and academic opportunities.
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NANS further questioned the implication of the EFCC boss’s statement, asking whether it suggests a rise in cybercrime under the commission’s watch or a failure of existing enforcement strategies.
“Public officials must exercise caution, responsibility, and precision in communicating sensitive issues,” the statement read, noting that such remarks could erode public trust and demoralise young Nigerians.
The group called on the EFCC chairman to either provide verifiable data to support the claim, clarify the context, or retract the statement entirely.
Despite its criticism, NANS said it remains open to collaboration with anti-graft agencies in promoting ethical conduct and digital responsibility, but insisted that such engagement must be based on mutual respect and accurate representation.
“Nigerian students are not criminals. They are innovators, scholars, leaders, and the backbone of our nation’s future,” the statement concluded.