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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 Lagos State, rescuing 106 youths allegedly lured with promises of admission into a foreign university. The operation also led to the arrest of the institution’s alleged proprietor following days of intelligence gathering and surveillance.
According to the NSCDC, the illegal institution had no official name, registration, signboard, or recognised campus, but allegedly operated online as a distance-learning centre affiliated with a foreign university. Preliminary investigations revealed that victims, mostly aged 19 to 24, came from several Nigerian states as well as Niger, Cameroon, and Togo, paying between ₦200,000 and ₦1.5 million in admission and processing fees, while some foreign nationals paid $400 to $500. Authorities also alleged the scheme rewarded participants with commissions for recruiting new students.
The rescued students have been taken into protective custody, while the arrested proprietor is assisting investigators. The NSCDC said investigations are ongoing to identify other individuals linked to the operation and urged Nigerians to verify the accreditation of institutions before seeking admission, warning against fraudulent education schemes that prey on unsuspecting students.
