University students’ involvement in cybercrime

The claim by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that about 60 per cent or six out of every 10 university students in Nigeria are into cybercrime or “Yahoo Yahoo” is not only unbelievable but also alarming. The Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, based his assertion on EFCC’s field investigations and operational findings over the past year. Out of the hundreds of suspects said to have been arrested in recent operations, the majority are said to be students.

At the 8th Biennial Conference of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-Owned Universities in Kano last month, Olukoyede further raised concerns about “Yahoo Plus,” a combination of internet fraud and dangerous fetish practices. Some students, he alleged, had compromised their lecturers and school administration to facilitate their activities. This is troubling.

Not long after this assertion, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) faulted Olukoyede. It described his claim as unsubstantiated, grossly insensitive, damaging, and unbecoming of a public office-holder entrusted with national responsibility. It added that such a generalised claim unfairly criminalised the overwhelming majority of law-abiding Nigerian students and was capable of creating harmful stereotypes that could lead to stigmatisation, denial of global opportunities, such as scholarships, grants, and academic collaborations. NANS urged the EFCC Chairman to provide verifiable data or retract the statement entirely.

ActionAid Nigeria agrees with NANS. Saying the claim was reckless, unsubstantiated and damaging, the organisation demanded evidence of any study backing the claim or an apology. It said the assertions demonised millions of Nigerian youth and undermined their contributions to national development without verifiable evidence or transparent methodology.

Inasmuch as NANS, ActionAid and some other groups have their points, Olukoyede’s claim may be a partial reflection of what obtains in many Nigerian universities. In April 2024, the EFCC Chairman shocked Nigerians when he alleged that there were criminal centres or “419 training schools” recruiting primary school pupils to become cybercriminals in Nigeria. According to him, the practice was done with the consent of the pupils’ parents who were made to sign an undertaking. He said the practice had been in existence for over a decade, “and that’s why you see them in 100, 200 Level, hacking. And you think they just started that way? No!”   

Nevertheless, some students’ involvement in cybercrime is a manifestation of the general rot and the warped value system in the larger Nigerian society. Some Nigerians have become overtly materialistic. They look for money by all means and want to get rich quick through any means. Sometimes, this is due to unemployment and economic pressures from the society.

In December 2024, the EFCC arrested 792 cybercrime suspects in their hideout on Victoria Island, Lagos. The syndicate comprised 193 foreigners and 599 Nigerians. They were alleged to have been involved in cryptocurrency investment fraud and romance scam.

In November 2024, the police had also arrested 130 people in Abuja for high-level cybercrimes, hacking and activities threatening national security. Those arrested included 113 foreigners from China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brazil, Philippine, Vietnam and Thailand. They were arraigned at the Federal High Court in Abuja. In January 2025, the EFCC arrested 105 internet fraudsters in Abuja. The suspects comprised four Chinese and 101 Nigerians. They reportedly specialised in hotel review job scam.

Even the EFCC personnel are not spared. In 2024, the Commission sacked 27 of its operatives for fraudulent activities and misconduct. Soon after this action, the authorities of the Commission also detained 10 officers of the Lagos Zonal Command over investigation of some missing operational items involving them. They were alleged to have broken into the EFCC’s exhibit room and stole foreign currency, gold items and other exhibits.

Cybercrime has soiled the image of Nigeria. As a Nigerian, you need to prove beyond reasonable doubt that you are not a fraudster at foreign airports before you are allowed entry into any country. The menace has cost the world some billions of dollars. The global economy lost about $600 billion to cybercrime in 2017. 

We must emphasise the value of hard work and honest means of livelihood instead of cybercrime. Nigerian students should concentrate on their studies and avoid any illegal business that could land them in trouble.

Parents and guardians share in the blame of reported rising cases of “Yahoo Yahoo” among the youths and by extension university students. They must be in the forefront of changing this narrative by warning their children to desist from criminal behaviour. They should question the source of sudden wealth of their children. Nigerians generally must overhaul their value orientation and stop worshipping money and vanity.

As for the EFCC, it should learn to provide verifiable data to support its claims. In the absence of such data, the Commission should avoid making statements that could put many young Nigerians’ dreams in jeopardy. Though cybercrime is a problem in many Nigerian universities, the percentage the Commission mentioned appears outlandish.