The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has uncovered an alleged fake university operating from a three-bedroom apartment in Ilado, Olorunda Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, rescuing 106 young people believed to have been lured into the scheme.
The operation, carried out in the early hours of Monday by the NSCDC’s Badagry Area Command, also led to the arrest of the suspected proprietor, who allegedly deceived prospective students from across Nigeria and neighbouring West African countries with promises of admission into a foreign university.
The NSCDC said the raid followed days of intelligence gathering and covert surveillance by its operatives.
Investigators said the institution had no official name, registration, signboard or recognised campus, but allegedly presented itself online as a distance-learning centre affiliated with a foreign university.
Speaking on Monday, the Badagry Area Commander, Chief Superintendent Gbenga Ekunola, said the operation was prompted by credible intelligence on activities at the location.
“We got reliable intelligence about the activities going on there. Our officers monitored the place for days before moving in. We have arrested the proprietor, who is assisting with our investigation, while the students have been taken into our protective custody,” Ekunola said.
Preliminary investigations showed that most of the rescued youths, aged between 19 and 24, travelled from states including Kogi, Oyo and parts of northern Nigeria. Others reportedly came from neighbouring countries such as Niger, Cameroon and Togo after being recruited through online platforms.
The NSCDC said the victims were allegedly persuaded to pay admission and processing fees ranging from N200,000 to N1.5m, while some foreign nationals reportedly paid between $400 and $500 after being promised admission into a foreign tertiary institution.
Investigators also alleged that participants were required to recruit additional students in exchange for commissions, with the arrangement operating in a manner similar to a Ponzi or multi-level marketing scheme.
One of the victims reportedly told investigators that after paying $400 to join the programme, he convinced his brother in Kogi State to enrol and had already begun receiving referral commissions.
The corps further alleged that some participants were involved in marketing unidentified products online while earning commissions from product sales and recruitment.
Ekunola said many parents were unaware of the true nature of their children’s activities in Badagry.
“We have started contacting their families. One parent told us her child informed the family that he came to Badagry to learn a trade, not to attend a university. That shows many of these parents were completely unaware,” he said.
He added that all 106 rescued youths would be profiled before being reunited with their families after investigations are concluded.
The area commander said anyone found culpable in operating the alleged illegal institution would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The NSCDC said investigations had been expanded to identify other members of the network, uncover additional collaborators and determine whether similar fraudulent schemes are operating elsewhere in the country.
