The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Olanipekun Olukoyede, has raised concern over what he describes as a growing wave of cybercrime among Nigerian university students.
Olukoyede said about six out of every 10 undergraduates are involved in internet fraud, popularly known as “Yahoo Yahoo.”
He disclosed this at the 8th Biennial Conference of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-Owned Universities in Nigeria held in Kano State.
Describing the trend as alarming, the EFCC boss said findings from the commission’s investigations and operations show widespread student involvement in cybercrime and 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.
According to him, many suspects arrested in recent operations were undergraduates, with some allegedly compromising academic standards by placing lecturers on their payroll.
He noted that the development points to deeper systemic issues, including weak oversight and administrative lapses within universities.
Olukoyede also referenced a major operation in Lagos where 792 suspects linked to a transnational cybercrime syndicate were arrested, adding that a significant number of them were students.
He further warned about the rise of “Yahoo Plus,” which combines internet fraud with fetish practices, describing it as a dangerous evolution of cybercrime.
The EFCC chairman called on university authorities to strengthen internal controls and collaborate more closely with law enforcement agencies to curb the menace.
He also advocated the adoption of artificial intelligence-driven systems to improve transparency, detect fraud, and enhance accountability in tertiary institutions.
Olukoyede stressed that institutions lacking financial accountability cannot effectively train future professionals, warning that the integrity of universities is critical to national security.
