The NSCDC’s Badagry Area Command uncovered the operation, which was being run from a small three-bedroom apartment in Ilado, Olorunda Local Council Development Area. The alleged proprietor has been arrested and is currently assisting authorities with their investigation.
According to Chief Superintendent Gbenga Ekunola, the Area Commander, the action followed weeks of intelligence gathering and surveillance. "We received credible information about suspicious activities at the location. Our officers monitored the premises before executing the operation, which has led to the arrest of the suspect," he stated.
The investigation revealed that the alleged institution operated without any official name, registration, or signage, falsely representing itself online as a distance learning center affiliated with a foreign university. The youths, aged between 19 and 24, came from various states in Nigeria, including Kogi and Oyo, as well as neighboring countries such as Niger, Cameroon, and Togo.
Victims reported that they were misled into paying exorbitant admission and processing fees, ranging from N200,000 to N1.5 million, with some foreign nationals paying between $400 and $500. Many were led to believe they would secure admission into a legitimate foreign tertiary institution.
Preliminary findings suggest that the scheme operated on a recruitment basis, where existing participants were incentivized to bring in new recruits in exchange for commissions, resembling a pyramid or Ponzi scheme. One victim recounted how he had paid $400 and subsequently encouraged his brother to enroll, earning commissions from the referrals.
Further investigations revealed that some youths were involved in promoting unnamed products online, receiving a percentage of sales and recruitment efforts. Ekunola expressed concern regarding parental awareness, noting that many families were oblivious to the true nature of their children's activities in Badagry. "We have begun reaching out to their families. One parent informed us that their child claimed to be in Badagry to learn a trade, not to attend a university," he said.
The NSCDC plans to profile the rescued youths and facilitate their reunification with families after thorough investigations. Ekunola assured that anyone found involved in running the fraudulent institution would face legal consequences.
The incident has sparked renewed alarm over the proliferation of fraudulent online admission schemes targeting vulnerable young people seeking educational opportunities abroad. NSCDC officials indicated that they would broaden their investigation to identify additional collaborators and ascertain whether similar operations exist in other regions of the country.
For the 106 youths, what they anticipated as the beginning of an international academic journey has instead thrust them into the heart of a criminal investigation, highlighting the pressing need for increased vigilance against such deceptive practices.
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