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”, has been rejected by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).
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 lamented that the assertion was unfounded and does not reflect the image of students across Nigerian universities, expressing concern over what it called a “fallacious and unfortunate assertion.”
The statement warned that such generalisations risk painting students in a negative light.
While the student body supports efforts to tackle financial crimes, it noted that it is wrong for public officials to make broad statements that suggest most students are involved in illegal activities.
It explained that such comments could erode trust in the education system and unfairly stigmatise young people, lamenting 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 focusing on their academic and personal growth.
According to the statement, “Nigerian students are not defined by criminality. We are individuals striving to acquire knowledge, build capacity, and contribute meaningfully to national development.”
NANS called on the EFCC chairman, 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, while reiterating its support for the fight against financial crimes.
The student body stressed the need for accuracy, balance, and responsibility in public communication by government agencies.
