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Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Olanipekun Olukoyede, has raised concerns that about six in every 10 students in Nigerian universities are involved in cybercrime.
Olukoyede made the disclosure at the eighth Biennial Conference of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-Owned Universities in Nigeria held in Kano, where he described the trend as a disturbing development.
“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 noted that findings from EFCC investigations and operations revealed widespread involvement of undergraduates in internet fraud and related offences, with many suspects arrested in recent raids identified as students.
The EFCC chairman further alleged that some students had compromised academic integrity by placing lecturers on their payroll, highlighting deeper systemic weaknesses within university administration.
Citing a major operation in Lagos, Olukoyede said 792 suspects linked to a transnational cybercrime syndicate were arrested, adding that a significant number of them 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.
Olukoyede also expressed concern over the growing trend of “Yahoo Plus,” where cybercrime is combined with fetish practices.
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He called on university authorities and governing councils to take urgent steps to address the menace by strengthening institutional controls and collaborating with law enforcement agencies.
The EFCC boss urged pro-chancellors to adopt artificial intelligence-driven governance systems to enhance transparency, detect fraud and improve financial accountability in universities.
According to him, many tertiary institutions still rely on manual processes, making them vulnerable to fraud such as ghost workers, inflated contracts and diversion of funds.
“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 advocated the use of AI in areas such as fraud detection, payroll management, procurement monitoring and academic integrity, noting that such tools can flag suspicious transactions and improve auditing processes in real time.
While highlighting the benefits of technology, Olukoyede cautioned that AI should complement human oversight and be implemented in line with existing regulations, including data protection and procurement laws.
He also called for capacity building in cybersecurity, machine learning and digital governance, urging institutions to invest in digital infrastructure such as broadband and cloud systems.
The EFCC chairman further stressed the need for stronger collaboration between universities, regulatory bodies and anti-corruption agencies to effectively tackle emerging threats.
