by Willy Okonji~
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Badagry Area Command, has uncovered a suspected fake university operating out of a three-bedroom apartment in Ilado, Lagos, rescuing 106 youths allegedly recruited into the scheme and arresting the proprietor.
The Corps said the operation followed days of intelligence gathering and covert surveillance, which eventually led operatives to the makeshift facility that lacked any of the basic markings of a legitimate tertiary institution.
“What we found was an apartment presenting itself as a university, without a name, without registration, without a signboard, and without a recognised campus,” an NSCDC source familiar with the operation said. “It was purely an online front, allegedly claiming affiliation with a foreign university to lure unsuspecting Nigerians and foreigners alike.”
According to the Corps, victims paid between N200,000 and N1.5 million to secure admission into the bogus institution, while foreign nationals were charged between $400 and $500. Investigators also uncovered a Ponzi-like recruitment structure embedded within the scheme, where participants earned commissions for bringing in new students.
“This was designed like a pyramid scheme dressed up as an academic institution,” the source added. “Victims were not just paying for admission; they were also incentivised to recruit others, which explains how the numbers grew so quickly to 106 persons.”
All 106 rescued youths have been taken into protective custody, while the proprietor of the fake institution is currently in NSCDC custody assisting investigators with information that could lead to the arrest of other suspects linked to the operation.
Security analysts say the case underscores a growing pattern of fraudulent online admission schemes targeting young Nigerians and foreign nationals desperate for tertiary education opportunities.
“This discovery should serve as a wake-up call,” the source said. “Many young people are falling victim simply because they do not verify the accreditation status of institutions before making payments. Stronger public awareness and tighter regulatory oversight are urgently needed to stop this from spreading further.”
The NSCDC said investigations are ongoing, with authorities working to determine whether the syndicate has links to similar operations elsewhere in the country.
