The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Olanipekun Olukoyede, has raised serious concern over the growing involvement of university students in cybercrime across Nigeria, describing the trend as alarming and dangerous to the country’s future.
Speaking at the 8th Biennial Conference of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-Owned Universities held in Kano, Olukoyede revealed that recent findings from EFCC investigations and intelligence reports suggest that about seven out of every ten university students are engaged in internet fraud and related criminal activities.
“It is worrisome that seven out of 10 students in Nigeria today are involved in cyber crimes,” he said.
He described the situation as a “disturbing development,” warning that the increasing normalization of cybercrime among young people could undermine national development and weaken the education system.
According to him, many of those arrested during recent EFCC operations include undergraduates, with some cases indicating that students are deeply involved in organised cyber fraud networks.
Olukoyede urged university authorities and stakeholders in the education sector to take stronger preventive measures, stressing the need for collaboration between institutions and anti-corruption agencies to address the rising trend.
He also noted that the commission’s recent operations have exposed the scale and sophistication of cybercrime networks involving youths, calling for urgent intervention to reverse the trend.