The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Olanipekun Olukoyede, has raised alarm over the growing rate of cybercrime among Nigerian university students, revealing that about six out of every 10 undergraduates are allegedly involved in internet fraud.
Olukoyede made this known during the 8th Biennial Conference of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-Owned Universities held in Kano, where he described the trend as disturbing and a serious threat to the nation’s future.
According to him, findings from the commission’s investigations over the past year show that cybercrime has become widespread among students, with many suspects arrested for internet fraud turning out to be undergraduates.
“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.
He further disclosed that some students involved in cybercrime allegedly place lecturers on their payroll to compromise academic processes, describing the development as evidence of deeper institutional weaknesses within the university system.
The EFCC chairman cited a recent operation in Lagos where 792 suspects linked to a transnational cybercrime syndicate were arrested. He noted that a significant number of those apprehended were university students.
According to him, the operation, supported by artificial intelligence tools, exposed the scale and sophistication of cybercrime networks operating both within and outside Nigeria.
Olukoyede also expressed concern over the increasing trend of “Yahoo Plus,” where internet fraud is combined with fetish practices, warning that it poses serious moral and security dangers.
He called on university authorities, governing councils, and administrators to take urgent action by strengthening internal controls and working closely with law enforcement agencies to tackle the menace.
“A university that lacks financial accountability cannot credibly train future professionals. The integrity of our universities is a matter of national security,” he stated.
He also advocated the adoption of artificial intelligence in university administration to improve transparency, detect fraud, and reduce abuse in systems such as payroll, procurement, and academic records.
According to him, AI tools can help identify suspicious transactions, irregular payments, and other fraudulent activities in real time, while also supporting academic integrity.
Olukoyede added that while the EFCC has already begun using AI for digital forensics and financial tracking, technology should complement not replace human oversight.
He urged universities to invest more in digital infrastructure and strengthen capacity in cybersecurity, machine learning, and digital governance, stressing that stronger collaboration between institutions and anti-corruption agencies is necessary to combat emerging threats.
