The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has uncovered a suspected fake university operating from a three-bedroom apartment in Ilado, Olorunda Local Council Development Area of Badagry, Lagos State, rescuing 106 young people allegedly lured into an elaborate admission scam. The operation followed days of intelligence gathering and covert surveillance by the Badagry Area Command.
According to the NSCDC, the so-called institution had no official name, registration, signboard or recognized campus, yet allegedly presented itself online as a distance-learning center affiliated with a foreign university. The suspected proprietor was arrested during the raid and is assisting investigators as authorities widen the probe into the operation and its accomplices.
Preliminary investigations showed that the victims, mostly aged 19 to 24, came from several Nigerian states as well as neighboring countries including Niger, Cameroon and Togo. They were allegedly persuaded to pay between ₦200,000 and ₦1.5 million as admission and processing fees, while some foreign nationals reportedly paid between $400 and $500 after being promised admission into a foreign tertiary institution.
Investigators also discovered that the scheme allegedly went beyond fake admissions. Participants were reportedly encouraged to recruit new “students” in exchange for commissions, creating a Ponzi-style referral system.
Some victims also told investigators they were made to market unidentified products online while earning commissions from both sales and recruitment, effectively turning the operation into a hybrid of an education scam and multi-level marketing scheme.
The rescued youths are currently in protective custody, where they are being profiled before being reunited with their families. Authorities say investigations are ongoing to identify other people connected to the operation and determine whether similar fake institutions are operating elsewhere.
The discovery has renewed concerns about fraudulent education schemes targeting young Nigerians desperate for opportunities amid rising unemployment and the growing demand for foreign qualifications. Security agencies have urged prospective students to verify the accreditation and legitimacy of institutions before making payments or accepting admission offers online.
