Concerns have intensified over Nigerian student involvement in cybercrime following a disclosure by the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Olanipekun Olukoyede, that about six out of every 10 university students are engaged in internet fraud. The revelation was made during a conference of pro-chancellors in Kano, placing the issue of Nigerian student cybercrime at the centre of national discourse on education and security.
Cybercrime, often referred to locally as “Yahoo Yahoo,” has become a major concern within Nigeria’s digital economy. Authorities have linked the rise in such activities to socio-economic pressures, peer influence, and weak institutional controls within academic environments.
Universities have increasingly been identified as locations where cybercrime networks operate, due to access to digital infrastructure and limited oversight mechanisms. This trend has raised questions about governance and ethical standards within tertiary institutions.
Speaking at the 8th Biennial Conference of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-Owned Universities, EFCC Chairman Olukoyede stated, “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 EFCC operations have revealed that a significant proportion of suspects arrested for cyber-related offences are undergraduates. According to him, some cases have involved compromise of academic systems, including instances where lecturers were allegedly placed on payroll to support fraudulent activities.
Olukoyede also referenced a recent operation in Lagos where 792 suspects linked to a transnational cybercrime syndicate were arrested, with many identified as students. The operation reportedly involved the use of advanced technological tools to detect and dismantle the network.
He further warned about the growing trend of “Yahoo Plus,” which combines internet fraud with ritual practices, describing it as an emerging concern with wider social implications. The EFCC chairman called on university authorities to strengthen governance frameworks and adopt digital systems that reduce vulnerability to fraud, noting that reliance on manual processes creates opportunities for abuse.
The rise in Nigerian student involvement in cybercrime presents risks to national security, institutional credibility, and youth development. It may undermine confidence in the country’s education system and affect the perception of graduates in the labour market.
The trend also underscores the need for policy interventions addressing both enforcement and prevention, including ethics education, institutional reforms, and economic opportunities for young people.
