The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has dismantled a suspected fake university operating from a three-bedroom apartment in Ilado, Badagry, Lagos State, rescuing 106 youths allegedly deceived with promises of admission into a foreign institution.
The operation, carried out by the NSCDC Badagry Area Command in the early hours of Monday, followed days of intelligence gathering and surveillance. The alleged proprietor of the institution was arrested and is currently assisting investigators.
According to the Area Commander, Chief Superintendent Gbenga Ekunola, the facility had no official name, registration, signboard or recognised campus, despite allegedly advertising itself online as a distance-learning centre affiliated with a foreign university.
Investigations revealed that most of the rescued youths, aged between 19 and 24, were recruited from various parts of Nigeria, including Kogi, Oyo and northern states, while others travelled from neighbouring countries such as Niger, Cameroon and Togo.
The victims reportedly paid between ₦200,000 and ₦1.5 million as admission and processing fees, while some foreign nationals allegedly paid between $400 and $500 after being promised admission into a foreign tertiary institution.
Further findings showed that participants were allegedly required to recruit other students in exchange for commissions, with investigators describing the operation as bearing the characteristics of a Ponzi or multi-level marketing scheme.
Authorities also uncovered evidence suggesting that some participants promoted unidentified products online and earned commissions from both product sales and new recruitments.
Ekunola said the command had begun contacting the families of the rescued youths, noting that many parents were unaware of their children’s actual activities.
“We have started reaching out to their families. One parent said her child told the family he came to Badagry to learn a trade, not to attend a university,” he said.
The NSCDC said all rescued persons would be profiled before being reunited with their families, while those found culpable in running the alleged institution would face prosecution.
The corps added that investigations had been expanded to uncover the full network behind the operation and determine whether similar fraudulent admission schemes exist elsewhere in the country.
