Discovery of the Alleged Fraudulent Institution

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Badagry Area Command, has uncovered an alleged fake university operating from a three-bedroom apartment in Ilado, Olorunda Local Council Development Area of Lagos State. During the operation, security officials rescued 106 youths who had allegedly been lured into the scheme with promises of academic advancement.

The Corps also arrested the alleged proprietor of the institution, which reportedly recruited young people from various parts of Nigeria and neighboring West African countries. The institution reportedly promised victims admission into a foreign university, but investigations revealed the facility had no official name, signboard, registration, or established campus.

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.

— Gbenga Ekunola, Chief Superintendent and Badagry Area Commander, NSCDC

Financial Exploitation and Recruitment Tactics

Preliminary investigations indicated that the operation functioned by persuading unsuspecting young people to pay significant admission and processing fees. Victims reportedly paid between N200,000 and N1.5 million, while foreign nationals involved in the scheme paid between $400 and $500. The institution presented itself online as a distance learning center affiliated with a foreign university to gain legitimacy.

Beyond the academic deception, the arrangement allegedly operated like a chain marketing or Ponzi scheme. Participants were encouraged to bring in more recruits in return for financial commissions. One victim informed investigators that after paying an initial $400, he persuaded his brother to enroll and had already begun receiving commissions from the referral.

In addition to the recruitment drive, some of the youths were reportedly involved in promoting unidentified products online. These participants received percentages from sales and further recruitment, adding a layer of commercial exploitation to the alleged academic fraud.

Regional Impact and Victim Origins

The 106 rescued youths, mostly aged between 19 and 24, were drawn from a wide geographical area. Many traveled from Nigerian states including Kogi, Oyo, and several northern regions. Others were recruited from across international borders, traveling from Niger, Cameroon, and Togo after being engaged through online platforms.

Chief Superintendent Gbenga Ekunola expressed deep concern regarding the lack of awareness among the victims' families. The NSCDC has begun the process of contacting relatives to facilitate the safe return of the youths to their homes.

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.

— Gbenga Ekunola, Chief Superintendent and Badagry Area Commander, NSCDC

Investigation and Legal Action

The NSCDC is currently profiling all rescued individuals and intends to work closely with parents and guardians following the conclusion of the investigation. The command has assured the public that anyone found culpable in the operation of the alleged fake institution will face prosecution in accordance with the law.

This development has raised fresh concerns over the proliferation of fraudulent online admission schemes targeting young people seeking educational opportunities. The NSCDC is expected to expand its investigation to determine if similar operations are being conducted in other parts of the country and to identify potential collaborators in the network.

For the 106 youths rescued in Ilado, the situation remains a stark reminder of the risks associated with unverified educational programs. What began as a search for international academic qualifications has instead left them at the center of a major criminal investigation into organized fraud.