ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has raised fresh concerns over the scale of cybercrime in Nigeria’s universities, revealing that about six in every 10 students are involved in internet fraud.
Olukoyede disclosed this on Tuesday at the 8th biennial conference of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-Owned Universities in Nigeria (COPSUN), held in Kano, where stakeholders gathered to discuss reforms in the tertiary education system.
Speaking on the theme, “Unlocking the potentials of artificial intelligence: University governance, internationalisation and rankings,” the EFCC boss described the situation as alarming, citing findings from the agency’s recent field operations.
“My research in the last one year has shown that about six out of 10 students in our universities are into cybercrime. It is a very disturbing situation,” he said.
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He attributed the trend to deep-rooted structural weaknesses within the university system, including poor oversight and weak accountability frameworks.
Olukoyede revealed that many suspects arrested during cybercrime operations across the country were students, some of whom allegedly compromised academic integrity by placing lecturers on payroll.
He also referenced a major crackdown in Lagos in December 2024, where 792 suspected cyber fraudsters were arrested, many identified as undergraduates highlighting the scale and organisation of fraud networks.
The EFCC chairman further expressed concern over the growing prevalence of “Yahoo Plus,” a form of cyber fraud allegedly combined with fetish practices, warning that the trend poses serious moral and security risks.
Calling for urgent action, he urged university authorities to strengthen internal controls and collaborate more closely with law enforcement agencies.
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“A university that lacks financial accountability cannot credibly train future professionals. The integrity of our universities is a matter of national security,” he said.
Olukoyede also advocated the deployment of artificial intelligence to combat fraud within institutions, noting that technology can improve transparency and monitoring systems.
According to him, AI tools can help detect suspicious financial transactions, flag irregular salary payments, and enhance procurement and auditing processes in real time.
He added that the EFCC has already begun integrating AI into its operations, particularly in digital forensics and financial tracking, as part of efforts to curb cybercrime across the country.