NSCDC Uncovers Fake University Operating From Three-Bedroom Apartment, Rescues 106 Youths

• The NSCDC has uncovered a fake university operating from a rented apartment in Lagos and rescued 106 students allegedly lured with promises of foreign admission, while the suspected proprietor has been arrested as investigations continue.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Badagry Area Command, has uncovered a fake distance-learning university operating from a rented apartment in Lagos, rescuing 106 young students allegedly lured with promises of foreign university admission.

The operation was carried out in the early hours of Monday, July 20, 2026, at Ilado in the Olorunda Local Council Development Area of Badagry following days of surveillance and intelligence gathering.

According to the NSCDC, the illegal institution had no official name, registration, signboard or physical campus. It allegedly operated online as a distance-learning centre claiming affiliation with an undisclosed foreign university.

Speaking after the raid, the Badagry Area Commander, Chief Superintendent Gbenga Ekunola, said the operation was based on credible intelligence.

“We got reliable intelligence about the activities going on there. Our officers monitored the place for days before moving in. We have arrested the proprietor, who is assisting with our investigation, while the students have been taken into our protective custody,” Ekunola said.

The rescued students, mostly between 19 and 24 years old, were reportedly recruited from several Nigerian states, including Kogi and Oyo, as well as neighbouring countries such as Niger, Cameroon and Togo.

Investigators said Nigerian victims paid between ₦200,000 and ₦1.5 million as admission and processing fees, while foreign recruits were allegedly charged between $400 and $500.

The NSCDC also disclosed that the operation functioned like a Ponzi-style recruitment scheme, where students earned commissions for bringing in new members.

According to investigators, some victims recruited relatives and friends into the programme and received referral bonuses, while others were encouraged to market unidentified products online in exchange for commissions.

The agency noted that the cross-border recruitment of students under false educational promises has raised concerns about possible human trafficking and organised fraud, adding that relevant agencies could become involved if evidence of trafficking is established.

Ekunola said many parents were unaware of the true nature of the programme.

“One of the parents we contacted said she believed her son had come to Badagry to learn a trade. She had no idea he was involved in this so-called university programme,” he said.

The alleged proprietor of the fake institution has been arrested and is assisting investigators.

Meanwhile, the 106 rescued youths have been placed in protective custody for profiling before being reunited with their families.

The NSCDC said investigations have been expanded to identify accomplices and uncover other illegal institutions operating across the country.

The Corps also reminded Nigerians that degree-awarding institutions must be licensed by the National Universities Commission (NUC), urging parents and prospective students to verify the accreditation status of schools before seeking admission.

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