The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has rejected a claim attributed to the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, alleging that six out of ten university students in Nigeria are involved in cybercrime, also known as “yahoo yahoo.”
At an event for Pro-Chancellors of state-owned universities held in Kano on Tuesday, the EFCC boss said, “My research in the last year has shown that about six out of 10 students in our universities are into cybercrime. It is a very disturbing situation.”
The student body, in a statement issued by its Senate President, Usman Adamu Nagwaza, on Tuesday, described the claim as misleading and damaging to the image of Nigerian students both within and outside the country.
NANS said the assertion was unfounded and does not reflect the reality of student life across Nigerian universities.
The association expressed concern over what it called a “fallacious and unfortunate assertion,” warning that such generalisations risk painting students in a negative light.
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The group maintained that while it supports efforts to tackle financial crimes, it is wrong for public officials to make broad statements that suggest most students are involved in illegal activities.
It added that such comments could erode trust in the education system and unfairly stigmatise young people.
According to the statement, NANS is also worried that the anti-graft agency appears to be placing more focus on cyber-related offences while allegedly giving less attention to corruption cases involving political figures.
The association insisted that Nigerian students are largely law-abiding and focused on their academic and personal growth.
“Nigerian students are not defined by criminality. We are individuals striving to acquire knowledge, build capacity, and contribute meaningfully to national development,” the statement read.
NANS called on Ola Olukoyede to retract the statement, saying it is necessary in the interest of fairness and national integrity.
It warned that such remarks could harm the reputation of Nigerian students and weaken public confidence in higher education.
The association reiterated its support for the fight against financial crimes but stressed the need for accuracy, balance, and responsibility in public communication by government agencies.
