Retract allegation of cybercrime against us – NANS cautions EFCC boss, Olukoyede
NANS Rejects EFCC Chairman’s Cybercrime Claim
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has publicly disputed a statement made by the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, who claimed that six out of ten university students in Nigeria are involved in cybercrime, commonly referred to as “yahoo yahoo.”
In a statement released on Tuesday, NANS Senate President Usman Adamu Nagwaza characterized Olukoyede’s assertion as misleading and damaging to the reputation of Nigerian students both domestically and internationally.
The association expressed concern that the statement inaccurately reflects the conduct of students enrolled in universities across Nigeria, describing it as a “fallacious and unfortunate assertion.” NANS emphasized that such sweeping generalizations could negatively impact public perceptions of students.
While NANS expressed its support for efforts to combat financial crimes, it criticized public officials for making broad statements that imply that most students engage in illegal activities. The association contended that these comments could undermine trust in the education system and unfairly stigmatize young individuals.
Furthermore, NANS highlighted a perceived imbalance in the focus of the EFCC, suggesting that the agency is concentrating more on cyber-related offenses at the expense of addressing corruption among political figures. The organization reaffirmed that the majority of Nigerian students are law-abiding individuals committed to their academic and personal development.
“Nigerian students are not defined by criminality. We are individuals striving to acquire knowledge, build capacity, and contribute meaningfully to national development,” the statement read.
NANS has called on Olukoyede to retract his statement, stressing the importance of fairness and national integrity. The association warned that such remarks could damage the reputation of Nigerian students and diminish public confidence in higher education. It reiterated the need for accuracy, balance, and responsibility in public communications from government agencies.
