Obi Warns of Moral Crisis as 60% Students Engage in Fraud

Peter Obi, the former presidential candidate, warned of a deep moral and systemic crisis in Nigeria following a claim by Olanipekun Olukoye, the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), that 60% of university students are involved in internet fraud. In a statement released on Wednesday, Obi described this alarming statistic as a reflection of broader failures in values and leadership within the country.

He noted that approximately 2.2 to 2.5 million university students are facing serious issues, with about 1.4 million young people engaged in fraudulent activities. Obi linked this trend to a weakening of societal values, arguing that young people often mirror the conduct of their leaders.

He called for urgent reforms to rebuild integrity in governance and public life, stressing that accountability must be enforced to restore public trust. Obi's comments come amid growing concerns about the rise of cybercrime among undergraduates, which the EFCC has identified as a significant national security threat.