The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested 19 students of the Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU) for allegedly indulging in internet fraud.
The anti-graft agency raided two private hostels at Ikot Akpadem in Mkpat-Enin LGA of Akwa Ibom on April 28.
EFCC said the raid followed several months of surveillance on their suspected involvement in romance scams, fraudulent cryptocurrency transactions, and impersonation.
The raided hostels include Obong Abasi Lodge and Mfon Obong Lodge, both located at Ikot Akpadem.
A total of 19 students were arrested, all studying at AKSU.
EFCC said its operatives recovered several laptops and mobile phones during the raid.
“They will be charged to court as soon as Investigations are concluded,” the commission said in a statement.
In mid-2022, the director of logistics for the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) was arrested for internet fraud.
This raised concerns about how widespread cybercrime is among student communities.
In the last three years alone, the EFCC has conducted several raids on student-inhabited areas.
It has also partnered with several branches of the NANS to fight university-related crimes and corruption.
Statista reports that 1,700 Nigerian males and 337 females were arrested in 2019 alone for advance fee fraud.
It said about 878 males and 73 females were arrested for cybercrime.
Overall, males represented the vast majority of individuals arrested for financial and economic crimes.
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