EFCC Claims 60% of Nigerian Students Involved in Cybercrime

At the eighth biennial conference of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-Owned Universities held in Kano on April 28, 2026, Olanipekun Olukayode, the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), disclosed alarming statistics indicating that 60% of university students in Nigeria are involved in cybercrime, commonly referred to as "yahoo yahoo." This claim has raised concerns among educational stakeholders, with Prof. Yakubu Ochefu, former Secretary General of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, labeling the figure as highly unlikely.

He noted that many students lack the technological skills required for such crimes. Prof.

Mahfouz Adedimeji, Vice Chancellor of the African School of Economics in Abuja, also criticized the claim as exaggerated, attributing student involvement in cybercrime to poverty and unemployment. The EFCC's assertion has been met with resistance from student bodies, including the National Association of Nigerian Students, which argues that such statements unfairly stigmatize students and do not reflect the reality of their pursuit of knowledge and contribution to national development.