Controversy erupts over EFCC cybercrime claim — Analyst demands answers

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A public affairs commentator, Mahdi Shehu, on Wednesday criticised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over its claim that a significant percentage of Nigerian university students are involved in internet fraud, popularly referred to as “Yahoo Yahoo.”

Shehu described the statement as harmful to the image and future of many innocent students.

He disclosed this in a post shared on his official X handle.

He questioned how the EFCC arrived at the figure and called for transparency.

“How did the EFCC arrive at this sweeping conclusion?” he asked.

He urged the anti-graft agency to make public the data supporting the claim.

“They need to publish the result of the research, study or findings,” he said.

He called on the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) to challenge the assertion.

“NANS must challenge this spurious claim because it is damaging to their future and integrity, especially those who are innocent,” he said.

Shehu also argued that for a balanced perspective, the EFCC should publish details of corruption cases involving public officials.

“For the picture to be complete, EFCC should publish the names of politicians, civil servants and other public officers who have been convicted or are under investigation,” he said.

He suggested that such disclosures would enable Nigerians to compare what he described as “adult Yahoo” with “juvenile Yahoo.”

He further accused the agency of focusing on young internet fraud suspects while not sufficiently addressing high-level corruption.

He alleged that high-profile offenders continue to enjoy their illicit gains while attention is directed at smaller offenders.

According to him, as long as those he described as senior Yahoo continue to display wealth without consequences, efforts to curb cybercrime among youths may lack credibility.

“As long as SENIOR YAHOO- YAHOO continue to parade their stolen wealth in public without shame and repercussion for that long EFCC must stop deceiving himself and stop disturbing the Yahoo-yahoo boys who are nothing but “GOOD STUDENTS” aspiring for DISTINCTION in the “legitimized” business of stealing without consequence tainted with selective prosecution.”

Recall that the EFCC Chairman, Olanipekun Olukoyede, had earlier raised concerns that about six out of every 10 students in Nigerian universities are involved in cybercrime.

He made the statement at the 8th Biennial Conference of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-Owned Universities in Nigeria held in Kano.

He said, “My research in the last one year has shown that about six out of 10 students in our universities are into cybercrime. It is a very disturbing situation.”

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