Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have uncovered a suspected fake university operating from a three-bedroom apartment in Badagry, Lagos State, rescuing 106 young people who were allegedly recruited into the illegal scheme with promises of obtaining foreign university admissions.
The operation, carried out by officers of the NSCDC Badagry Area Command, also led to the arrest of the alleged proprietor of the institution, who is accused of deceiving prospective students from across Nigeria and neighbouring West African countries into paying large sums of money for admission into what investigators described as a non-existent foreign university programme.
The raid took place in the early hours of Monday at Ilado in the Olorunda Local Council Development Area (LCDA) after several days of intelligence gathering and covert surveillance by security operatives.
According to the NSCDC, the so-called institution operated without an official name, registration, signboard or recognised campus but allegedly presented itself on the internet as a distance-learning centre affiliated with a foreign university.
Speaking after the operation, the Area Commander of the NSCDC in Badagry, Chief Superintendent Gbenga Ekunola, said the raid was carried out following credible intelligence about suspicious activities at the apartment.
According to him, officers monitored the premises for several days before moving in to arrest the alleged mastermind and rescue those found at the location.
“We received reliable intelligence regarding the activities at the location. Our operatives kept the premises under surveillance for several days before carrying out the operation. The proprietor has been arrested and is assisting with our investigation, while the students have been placed under protective custody,” Ekunola said.
He explained that the rescue operation was necessary to protect the young people, many of whom were believed to have been misled into believing they were enrolled in a genuine academic programme.
Preliminary investigations by the NSCDC revealed that most of the rescued youths were between the ages of 19 and 24.
They were reportedly recruited from different parts of Nigeria, including Kogi, Oyo and several states in Northern Nigeria.
Investigators also found that some of the participants travelled from neighbouring countries such as Niger, Cameroon and Togo after being recruited through online advertisements and social media platforms.
According to the NSCDC, the suspected operators allegedly convinced the victims that they would gain admission into a foreign university through a distance-learning arrangement.
The victims were reportedly asked to pay admission and processing fees ranging from N200,000 to N1.5 million.
Foreign nationals allegedly paid between 400 and 500 US dollars after being promised access to international higher education opportunities.
As investigations progressed, security operatives discovered that the operation went beyond offering fake admissions.
The corps alleged that participants were encouraged to recruit other students into the programme in exchange for commissions.
According to investigators, the recruitment model closely resembled a Ponzi or chain-marketing scheme in which earnings depended largely on bringing in new participants rather than genuine educational services.
The NSCDC said participants were promised higher commissions as they recruited more people into the programme.
One of the rescued victims reportedly told investigators that after paying 400 US dollars to register, he persuaded his brother in Kogi State to join the scheme and had already begun receiving referral commissions.
Investigators also discovered that some participants were allegedly involved in promoting unidentified products online while earning additional income from both product sales and recruitment activities.
Security officials believe the operators may have combined elements of online marketing with fraudulent educational claims to attract unsuspecting young people searching for opportunities to study abroad.
Ekunola expressed concern over the growing sophistication of fraudulent schemes targeting Nigerian youths.
He said many of the parents contacted by the NSCDC had no idea what their children were actually doing in Badagry.
According to him, one parent disclosed that her child told the family he had travelled to Badagry to learn a vocational trade rather than attend a university.
“We have begun contacting their families. One parent told us her child had informed the family that he travelled to Badagry to learn a trade, not to attend a university. That clearly shows many parents had no idea what was really going on,” he said.
The area commander said all 106 rescued youths would undergo proper profiling as part of the investigation before being reunited with their families.
He assured that the welfare of the rescued persons remained a priority while investigations continue.
Ekunola also warned individuals behind illegal educational institutions and fraudulent recruitment schemes that the NSCDC would continue to track and prosecute offenders.
He said anyone found culpable in operating the suspected fake university would face prosecution in accordance with the law.
The commander further disclosed that investigators had expanded the probe to identify other members of the network, determine whether additional victims had been recruited and uncover similar operations that may be functioning in other parts of Nigeria.
He said intelligence gathered so far suggested the possibility of a wider network operating beyond Lagos State.
The discovery has again drawn attention to the growing activities of fake educational institutions and fraudulent online recruitment schemes targeting desperate young people seeking admission into universities or opportunities to study abroad.
Over the years, Nigerian authorities have repeatedly warned members of the public against dealing with unaccredited institutions or paying admission fees without verifying the status of schools through the National Universities Commission (NUC) or relevant regulatory agencies.
The NUC has, on several occasions, published lists of illegal universities and degree-awarding institutions operating across the country while advising prospective students and parents to confirm the accreditation status of any institution before seeking admission.
Security agencies have also warned that many fraudulent operators now rely heavily on social media and digital platforms to target young people with promises of foreign scholarships, international admissions and high-paying jobs.
Experts say such schemes often exploit the increasing demand for higher education and overseas opportunities, especially among youths facing limited admission spaces in Nigerian universities.
The latest operation by the NSCDC highlights the risks posed by such illegal schemes and the need for greater public awareness.
Authorities urged parents to remain actively involved in monitoring the activities of their children and to verify educational opportunities before making payments.