EFCC Boss: 60% of Students Engaged in Cybercrime

Ola Olukoyede, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), raised concerns regarding the rising incidence of cybercrime among Nigerian students during the 8th Biennial Conference of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-Owned Universities in Kano. He disclosed that recent research indicated that six out of ten university students are engaged in cybercrime, a situation he described as alarming.

Olukoyede noted that the problem is widespread across various institutions and linked to weak monitoring systems and poor accountability structures within universities. He highlighted a significant operation in Lagos in December 2024, where 792 suspects, including many students, were arrested as part of a crackdown on organized cybercrime networks.

Olukoyede warned of the dangers posed by this trend, which combines internet fraud with ritual practices, and called for urgent action from university authorities to enhance internal controls. He also emphasized the need for universities to adopt artificial intelligence tools to improve transparency and monitor financial transactions effectively.