“6 in 10 undergraduates do Yahoo Yahoo” — EFCC boss raises alarm over campus cybercrime

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Olanipekun Olukoyede, has expressed deep concern over what he described as the alarming rate of cybercrime involvement among Nigerian university students, warning that nearly 60 per cent of undergraduates may be implicated in internet fraud-related activities.

Olukoyede raised the concern on Tuesday while speaking at the 8th Biennial Conference of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-Owned Universities in Nigeria, held in Kano, where he described the trend as a serious threat to the country’s future.

According to him, intelligence gathered from EFCC investigations and enforcement operations over the past year suggests that “about six out of every 10 students” in Nigerian universities are involved in cybercrime.

“It is a very disturbing situation,” he said, noting that a significant number of suspects arrested during recent cybercrime raids are undergraduates from various institutions.

The EFCC chairman further alleged that some students engaged in internet fraud have extended their activities into academic systems, including attempts to influence outcomes by placing lecturers on fraudulent payroll schemes.

He attributed the development to wider institutional weaknesses, including poor oversight mechanisms and administrative loopholes within tertiary institutions.

Olukoyede also referenced a major EFCC operation in Lagos, where 792 suspects linked to a transnational cybercrime network were arrested. He revealed that a notable proportion of those arrested were students, underscoring the scale and increasing sophistication of cybercrime syndicates operating within the country.

He added that the operation was supported by artificial intelligence tools, highlighting the growing role of technology in both enabling and combating financial crimes.

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The EFCC boss also raised concerns over the emergence of “Yahoo Plus,” a variant of internet fraud reportedly combined with ritual practices, describing it as a dangerous evolution of cybercrime in Nigeria.

Olukoyede called on university authorities and governing councils to urgently strengthen internal control systems, recommending the adoption of artificial intelligence-driven governance frameworks to enhance transparency and accountability.

He warned that many universities still rely on manual administrative processes, making them vulnerable to fraud such as ghost workers, inflated contracts, and diversion of funds.

“A university that lacks financial accountability cannot credibly train future professionals. The integrity of our universities is a matter of national security,” he said.

He further suggested the deployment of AI-based systems in key administrative areas, including payroll management, procurement monitoring, and financial auditing, noting that such tools could help detect irregular transactions and improve real-time oversight.

However, he stressed that while artificial intelligence offers significant benefits, it must complement—not replace—human oversight and must operate within existing legal frameworks, including data protection and procurement laws.

Olukoyede added that the EFCC has already begun integrating AI into its investigative processes, particularly in digital forensics and financial tracking, which he said has improved operational efficiency.

His remarks underscore growing national concern over youth involvement in cybercrime and renewed calls for reforms in Nigeria’s higher education and governance systems.