NSCDC uncovers fake foreign university in Lagos, rescues 106 students.

By Divine Sam

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has uncovered a suspected fake foreign university operating in Lagos State and rescued 106 students allegedly lured into the scheme with promises of obtaining internationally recognized degrees.

The operation, carried out by the NSCDC Badagry Area Command, led to the arrest of the alleged proprietor of the institution during a raid on a three-bedroom apartment in Ilado, Olorunda Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State.

According to the NSCDC, the illegal institution operated under the guise of a distance-learning centre affiliated with a foreign university, attracting unsuspecting youths from across Nigeria and neighbouring West African countries, including Niger, Cameroon, and Togo.

Preliminary investigations revealed that victims paid 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 foreign university admissions and qualifications.

Authorities further disclosed that the operators allegedly ran a recruitment model similar to a Ponzi scheme, where students were encouraged to recruit others in exchange for commissions and other incentives.

Speaking on the development, NSCDC Badagry Area Commander, Gbenga Ekunola, said many of the rescued students and their families were unaware of the fraudulent nature of the operation.

“One parent told us her child informed the family that he came to Badagry to learn a trade, not to attend a university,” Ekunola reportedly stated.

The NSCDC said the institution had no official registration, signboard, or recognized campus, raising serious concerns about the growing menace of education-related fraud in the country. Investigators are currently working to identify additional suspects and determine whether similar syndicates are operating in other parts of Nigeria.

The discovery has sparked renewed calls for prospective students and parents to verify the accreditation status of educational institutions before making payments or accepting admission offers.

The NSCDC reaffirmed its commitment to combating fraud and protecting vulnerable Nigerians from criminal enterprises masquerading as legitimate educational establishments.