The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Olanipekun Olukoyede, has expressed concern over the increasing involvement of Nigerian university students in cybercrime, saying that about six out of every ten undergraduates are allegedly engaged in internet fraud.
Olukoyede disclosed this on Tuesday at the 8th Biennial Conference of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-Owned Universities held in Kano, describing the trend as alarming and a serious threat to Nigeria’s future.
He said his findings from research conducted over the past year indicated that a significant proportion of university students are involved in cyber-related offences.
“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.
The EFCC boss noted that investigations and field operations by the commission have consistently shown that many of those arrested for cybercrime are undergraduates, with some allegedly compromising academic processes by influencing lecturers.
He added that the trend points to deeper structural challenges within the university system, including weak oversight and administrative lapses.
Olukoyede also referenced a recent operation in Lagos where 792 suspects linked to a transnational cybercrime syndicate were arrested, stating that a large number of them were students.
He said the operation, which involved the use of artificial intelligence tools, exposed the scale and sophistication of cybercrime networks operating within and outside Nigeria.
He further raised concern over the growing phenomenon of “Yahoo Plus,” where internet fraud is combined with fetish practices, warning that it poses both moral and security risks.
Olukoyede called on university authorities and governing councils to take urgent steps to address the menace by strengthening institutional controls and working closely with law enforcement agencies.
“A university that lacks financial accountability cannot credibly train future professionals. The integrity of our universities is a matter of national security,” he said.
He also advocated the use of artificial intelligence in university administration to improve transparency and detect fraud in areas such as payroll, procurement, and academic processes.
According to him, AI systems could help identify irregular payments and suspicious transactions in real time, enhancing accountability within tertiary institutions.
Olukoyede added that while the EFCC is already deploying AI in investigations, particularly in digital forensics and financial tracking, such technology should support, not replace, human judgement.
He further urged universities to invest in digital infrastructure and strengthen capacity in cybersecurity, machine learning, and digital governance, stressing the need for collaboration between institutions, regulators, and anti-corruption agencies to tackle emerging threats.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
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