The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Olanipekun Olukoyede, has raised concerns over the growing involvement of Nigerian university students in cybercrime, revealing that about six out of every 10 undergraduates are engaged in internet fraud and related offences.
NOP NIGERIA reports that Olukoyede disclosed this at the 8th Biennial Conference of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-Owned Universities in Nigeria held in Kano.
Speaking at the conference themed “Unlocking the Potentials of Artificial Intelligence: University Governance, Internationalisation and Rankings,” the EFCC boss described the trend as alarming.
“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.
Olukoyede revealed that findings from EFCC investigations and operations showed widespread involvement of students in cybercrime activities.
He added that some undergraduates had gone as far as compromising the academic system.
“Many of those arrested are students. Some of them have even put their lecturers on payroll,” he said.
According to him, the development reflects deeper systemic challenges, including weak oversight and administrative lapses within tertiary institutions.
The anti-graft agency also highlighted a major operation in Lagos where 792 suspects linked to a transnational cybercrime syndicate were arrested.
Olukoyede noted that a significant number of those apprehended were students.
He explained that the operation, powered by artificial intelligence tools, exposed the scale and sophistication of cybercrime networks operating within and beyond Nigeria.
Concern Over ‘Yahoo Plus’ Trend
The EFCC chairman further expressed worry over the rise of “Yahoo Plus,” a form of cybercrime that combines internet fraud with fetish practices.
He called on university authorities to urgently address the growing menace.
Olukoyede urged governing councils and university managements to strengthen internal controls and collaborate with law enforcement agencies.
He also advocated the adoption of artificial intelligence-driven systems to improve governance and transparency in tertiary institutions.
“A university that lacks financial accountability cannot credibly train future professionals. The integrity of our universities is a matter of national security,” he said.
The EFCC boss stressed that most universities still rely on manual systems, making them vulnerable to fraud such as ghost workers, inflated contracts and diversion of funds.
He recommended the deployment of AI tools in key areas, including fraud detection, payroll management, procurement monitoring and academic integrity.
According to him, such technologies can help flag suspicious transactions, detect irregular salary payments and enhance auditing processes in real time.
While advocating digital transformation, Olukoyede cautioned that artificial intelligence should not replace human supervision.
He emphasised that its implementation must comply with existing laws, including data protection and procurement regulations.
The EFCC chairman further called for capacity building in cybersecurity, machine learning and digital governance across universities.
He urged institutions to invest in digital infrastructure such as broadband connectivity and cloud systems to enable effective deployment of AI.
Olukoyede also stressed the need for stronger collaboration between universities, regulatory agencies and anti-corruption bodies to tackle emerging threats in the education sector.
