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 young people allegedly lured into a fraudulent admission scheme.
The operation, carried out in the early hours of Monday, followed days of intelligence gathering and covert surveillance by NSCDC operatives, culminating in the arrest of the alleged proprietor of the institution. Authorities say the suspect is currently assisting investigators as efforts continue to unravel the full scope of the operation.
According to the NSCDC, the suspected institution had no official name, registration, recognised campus or signboard. Investigators alleged that it operated from a rented residential apartment while presenting itself online as a distance-learning centre affiliated with an unnamed foreign university. The alleged operator reportedly targeted unsuspecting young people from different parts of Nigeria and neighbouring West African countries with promises of securing admission into an overseas university.
The rescued victims, most of whom are between 19 and 24 years old, were said to have travelled from states including Kogi, Oyo and several northern states, while others reportedly came from Niger, Cameroon and Togo after being recruited through online platforms and referrals. Preliminary investigations suggest that many of them believed they were pursuing genuine international academic opportunities.
Investigators further alleged that victims paid admission and processing fees ranging from ₦200,000 to ₦1.5 million, while some foreign recruits reportedly paid between $400 and $500. Beyond the admission promises, the scheme allegedly required participants to recruit new students in exchange for financial commissions, a structure authorities say resembled a pyramid or Ponzi-style recruitment network. Some participants were also reportedly encouraged to market unidentified products online for additional commissions.
Speaking on the operation, Badagry Area Commander, Chief Superintendent Gbenga Ekunola, said the raid was made possible through credible intelligence received by the command. He disclosed that officers monitored the premises for several days before moving in, leading to the rescue of the victims and the arrest of the alleged mastermind.
The commander also expressed concern that many parents were unaware of the true activities of their children. According to him, one parent believed her son had travelled to Badagry to learn a trade, only to discover he had become involved in the alleged fake university operation. The rescued youths have since been placed in protective custody for profiling before being reunited with their families after investigations.
The NSCDC has assured the public that anyone found culpable in the operation of the alleged illegal institution will be prosecuted in accordance with the law. Investigators are also expanding the probe to identify possible collaborators and determine whether similar operations exist in other parts of the country.
The incident has renewed concerns over the activities of illegal tertiary institutions and fraudulent admission schemes targeting desperate students seeking higher education opportunities. In Nigeria, only universities licensed by the National Universities Commission (NUC) are legally authorised to award university degrees. The Commission has repeatedly warned prospective students and parents to verify the accreditation status of institutions before seeking admission in order to avoid falling victim to degree mills and academic fraud.
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