EFCC’s Cybercrime Claim On Students Deeply Troubling — Obi

Former presidential candidate of the Labour party and a chieftain of African Democratic Congress (ADC) Peter Obi has described as deeply troubling a recent statement by the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that six out of every 10 Nigerian university students are involved in internet fraud, adding that such reports must not be taken lightly.

Obi, while reacting in a statement issued on Wednesday, said if the assertion is accurate, it signals a far-reaching crisis that goes beyond criminality to reflect a breakdown in the country’s value system.

He noted that Nigeria already has a relatively small higher education population, estimated at between two and 2.5 million students, warning that the implications of the EFCC’s claim are severe.

“If indeed about 60 per cent of them, roughly 1.4 million young people, are involved in fraud, then we are not just facing a crime issue; we are confronting a serious moral and systemic failure,” Obi said.

The former Anambra State governor questioned the societal influences shaping young Nigerians, asking, “What has brought us to this level? Who are the role models these students are looking up to? What values are they learning from society?”

He argued that behaviour among youths often mirrors what is normalised within the wider system, stressing that when wrongdoing appears to be rewarded and integrity goes unrecognised, it creates dangerous incentives.

According to him, when individuals in positions of authority are linked to allegations of forgery or dishonesty without consequences, it sends a message that success can be achieved “by any means,” thereby eroding the value of hard work and discipline.

“These points clearly point to a collapse of moral values,” Obi stated.

While cautioning against placing the blame solely on young people, he emphasised the role of leadership in setting societal standards.

“If we do not demonstrate integrity at the top, we cannot expect it at the bottom,” he said.

Obi called for urgent reforms aimed at restoring ethical standards, including enforcing accountability across all levels and rewarding honesty and diligence.

“We must urgently rebuild our value system, enforce accountability without bias, and create an environment where honesty, hard work, and discipline are rewarded. That is the only sustainable path to securing the future of our nation,” he added.