The Executive Chairman of Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Olanipekun Olukoyede, warned that a majority of university students are now involved in internet fraud, commonly referred to as “Yahoo Yahoo.” Speaking at the 8th Biennial Conference of the Committee of Pro‑Chancellors of State‑Owned Universities in Nigeria in Kano, Olukoyede said recent EFCC investigations suggest that six out of ten undergraduates are participating in cyber‑crime activities.
The conference, themed “Unlocking the Potentials of Artificial Intelligence: University Governance, Internationalisation and Rankings,” gathered senior officials from the country’s public higher‑education institutions. Olukoyede presented data collected through the commission’s field operations over the past year, indicating a widespread penetration of cyber‑fraud among students. He noted that many of those arrested in recent EFDB operations were enrolled in universities, and some had allegedly recruited lecturers to facilitate fraudulent schemes.
According to the EFCC chief, the high level of student involvement points to systemic weaknesses in university administration, including insufficient oversight and vulnerable payroll processes. He highlighted a major Lagos operation in which 792 individuals linked to a transnational cyber‑crime network were detained; a sizable proportion of those arrested were students. The operation, which employed artificial‑intelligence tools, demonstrated the sophistication and cross‑border reach of the fraud networks operating from Nigerian campuses.
Olukoyede also cautioned that a newer variant of the crime, dubbed “Yahoo Plus,” blends traditional internet scams with occult practices, further complicating detection and prosecution. He urged university governing councils and pro‑chancellors to strengthen internal controls, enhance financial accountability, and cooperate closely with law‑enforcement agencies. The EFCC chairman recommended the adoption of AI‑driven governance systems to improve transparency, detect irregularities and safeguard institutional integrity.
“An institution that lacks financial accountability cannot credibly train future professionals. The integrity of our universities is a matter of national security,” Olukoyede said.
The statements underscore growing concerns about the nexus between higher education and cyber‑crime in Nigeria and signal a push for tighter regulatory oversight and technology‑enabled governance in the sector.
