EFCC Raises Alarm: 6 Out of 10 Nigerian University Students Involved in Yahoo Plus
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Olanipekun Olukoyede, has raised serious concern over the growing involvement of Nigerian university students in cybercrime, including the practice popularly known as “Yahoo Plus.”
Speaking at the 8th Biennial Conference of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-Owned Universities in Kano, Olukoyede said recent EFCC investigations and field operations revealed an alarming trend among undergraduates.
According to him, about six out of every 10 students in Nigerian universities are involved in cybercrime activities, describing the development as deeply disturbing.
“My research in the last one year has shown that about six out of 10 students in our universities are into cybercrime. It is a very disturbing situation,” he stated.
Olukoyede explained that many suspects arrested during recent EFCC operations were undergraduates, with some allegedly taking criminal activities further by extending their influence into academic environments, including attempts to compromise lecturers.
He cited a major operation in Lagos where hundreds of suspected cybercrime offenders were arrested, noting that a significant number of them were students. He said this reflects the increasing sophistication and spread of such criminal networks.
The EFCC chairman also expressed concern over the rise of “Yahoo Plus,” a form of internet fraud reportedly combined with fetish practices for supposed financial success.
He noted that weak institutional oversight in many universities has worsened the problem, pointing to issues such as ghost workers, payroll manipulation, and procurement fraud, which he said continue to thrive because of outdated manual systems.
“A university that lacks financial accountability cannot credibly train future professionals. The integrity of our universities is a matter of national security,” he said.
Olukoyede called on universities to adopt artificial intelligence systems to improve governance, strengthen transparency, and enhance fraud detection in payroll management, procurement, and auditing processes.
He added that artificial intelligence is already supporting EFCC operations in digital forensics and financial tracking, but stressed that technology must work alongside human oversight and within legal boundaries.
He further urged stronger cybersecurity education, improved digital infrastructure, and closer collaboration between universities and anti-corruption agencies to tackle the growing threat.
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