The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Badagry Area Command, has uncovered a suspected fake university operating from a three-bedroom apartment in Ilado, Olorunda Local Council Development Area of Badagry, Lagos State, rescuing 106 youths who were allegedly lured into the scheme with promises of admission into a foreign university.
The operation also led to the arrest of the alleged proprietor of the illegal university as security agencies intensified efforts to dismantle the network behind the fraudulent operation.
The raid was carried out in the early hours of Monday after days of intelligence gathering and covert surveillance by NSCDC operatives.
According to the Corps, the so-called university had no official name, no registration with the National Universities Commission (NUC), no signboard and no recognised campus. Instead, the university allegedly operated online as a distance-learning centre, falsely claiming affiliation with an unnamed foreign university to deceive unsuspecting applicants seeking higher education opportunities.
Speaking on the operation, the Badagry Area Commander of the NSCDC, Chief Superintendent Gbenga Ekunola, said the command acted on credible intelligence regarding suspicious activities at the apartment.
He disclosed that the alleged proprietor of the fake university, whose identity has not yet been made public by the NSCDC, was arrested and is currently assisting investigators. As of the latest official briefing, the authorities have also not released the names of any other suspects or collaborators, saying investigations are ongoing.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the rescued youths, mostly between the ages of 19 and 24, were recruited from different parts of Nigeria, including Kogi, Oyo and several northern states. Others travelled from neighbouring countries such as Niger, Cameroon and Togo after being recruited online. Many reportedly believed they had secured genuine admission into an overseas university through the scheme.
Investigators further disclosed that victims paid between ₦200,000 and ₦1.5 million as admission and processing fees, while some foreign applicants paid between $400 and $500.
The NSCDC alleged that participants were encouraged to recruit new students in return for commissions, creating a structure investigators described as resembling a Ponzi or chain-marketing scheme. Some victims reportedly admitted introducing friends and relatives to the fake university programme after being promised financial rewards for every successful referral.
The rescued students have been placed in protective custody for profiling, counselling and documentation while arrangements are being made to reunite them with their families.
The NSCDC said investigations would continue to determine the full extent of the fake university operation, identify additional collaborators and ensure that everyone connected with the alleged fraud is prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The discovery has once again highlighted the growing activities of illegal university degree mills and admission syndicates exploiting the aspirations of young Nigerians and foreign nationals.
Authorities have advised parents and prospective students to verify the accreditation status of any university through the National Universities Commission before making payments or accepting admission offers, warning that fraudsters are increasingly using online platforms to promote fake university opportunities.
