The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has uncovered a suspected fake university operating from a three-bedroom apartment in Ilado, Olorunda Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, rescuing 106 young people allegedly lured into the scheme.
The operation, carried out by the NSCDC Badagry Area Command in the early hours of Monday, also led to the arrest of the alleged proprietor of the institution, who is accused of deceiving prospective students with promises of admission into a foreign university.
According to the NSCDC, the suspected institution had no official name, registration, signboard, or recognised campus. Investigators said it operated from a rented apartment while presenting itself online as a distance-learning centre affiliated with a foreign university.
Badagry Area Commander, Chief Superintendent Gbenga Ekunola, said the raid followed days of intelligence gathering and covert surveillance after the command received credible information about suspicious 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.
The rescued victims, mostly between the ages of 19 and 24, reportedly came from several Nigerian states, including Kogi, Oyo, and parts of northern Nigeria. Others were said to have travelled from neighbouring countries such as Niger, Cameroon, and Togo after being recruited online.
Preliminary investigations revealed that victims allegedly paid between ₦200,000 and ₦1.5 million in admission and processing fees, while some foreign nationals reportedly paid between $400 and $500 in exchange for promises of admission into a foreign tertiary institution.
Investigators further disclosed that participants were encouraged to recruit additional students in return for commissions, with authorities describing the operation as resembling a Ponzi-style referral network.
The NSCDC said investigations are ongoing to identify other suspects and determine the full extent of the alleged fraud.
