A major crackdown by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has led to the closure of a fake university operating in Lagos State, the rescue of 107 students, and the arrest of six suspects allegedly involved in running illegal academic programmes and a fraudulent investment scheme.
The operation, carried out in the early hours of Monday in Imeke community, Olorunda Local Council Development Area of Badagry, exposed what authorities described as a sophisticated network that preyed on admission seekers by offering unauthorised degree programmes and luring students into a Ponzi scheme.
The Lagos State Command of the NSCDC said the institution, whose identity has been withheld pending further investigations, was illegally admitting students into programmes that lacked accreditation, including Nursing and other professional courses.
In a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Oluwaseun Abolurin, the Corps revealed that operatives stormed the facility at about 6:00 a.m. and arrested six suspects aged between 24 and 31 years.
According to the statement, investigations showed that many of the students had been deceived into believing they were enrolled in a legitimate higher institution, only to discover they had become participants in a fraudulent financial scheme allegedly operated by the institution's managers.
“On Monday, July 20, 2026, at about 6:00 a.m., NSCDC operatives smashed a fake university located in Imeke village, Olorunda LCDA, suspected of conducting illegal admissions and running unaccredited courses, including Nursing,” the statement said.
“The operatives arrested six suspects in connection with the institution, while about 107 unsuspecting students were lured into joining a Ponzi scheme after securing admission into the school.”
The NSCDC said the development highlights the growing activities of fraudsters exploiting the desperation of young Nigerians seeking admission into tertiary institutions.
Lagos State Commandant of the Corps, Adedotun Keshinro, has directed that all suspects arrested in connection with the fake university, alongside exhibits recovered from the premises, be transferred to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for comprehensive investigation and possible prosecution.
Keshinro urged prospective students and parents to thoroughly verify the status and accreditation of institutions before accepting admission offers, warning that many fraudulent operators use false promises of easy admission to defraud unsuspecting victims.
He cautioned that desperation for university admission often creates opportunities for criminal syndicates to exploit vulnerable individuals through fraudulent schemes disguised as educational opportunities.
Beyond the fake university operation, the NSCDC disclosed that it had arrested 12 additional suspects in separate operations linked to human trafficking, illegal migration, cross-border crimes, Ponzi schemes and related offences across Badagry and its surrounding communities.
Among those arrested were foreign nationals, including a Cameroonian and a citizen of Niger Republic, alongside several Nigerians allegedly involved in facilitating illegal migration and other criminal activities.
The command also announced the rescue of 10 Cameroonian nationals who were allegedly trafficked into Nigeria and subjected to months of hardship and exploitation.
According to the Corps, preliminary investigations indicated that the victims endured severe conditions while being used for profit by trafficking syndicates operating across border communities.
The statement revealed that one Cameroonian suspect was arrested on July 19 for allegedly operating a Ponzi scheme and facilitating unlawful entry into Nigeria, while another suspect was apprehended a day earlier in Alafia Community along Itoga Road in connection with human trafficking and illegal migration activities.
In another development, NSCDC operatives arrested three foreign nationals, including a male citizen of Niger Republic, for alleged involvement in illegal migration, Ponzi scheme operations and activities considered detrimental to existing laws and government policies within the Itoga and Imeke axis of Badagry.
The Corps said suspects linked to immigration-related offences would be handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) for further investigation and necessary action.
Meanwhile, the command also reported the arrest and prosecution of seven individuals accused of vandalising public school facilities in Ibereko, Badagry.
Five of the suspects were minors aged between 12 and 16 years.
Investigators said the suspects damaged critical infrastructure within the school premises, including classroom desks, electrical installations, office equipment and cables.
The NSCDC confirmed that all seven suspects were prosecuted after investigations established their involvement in the destruction of public property.
The Corps reiterated its commitment to protecting educational infrastructure and warned that attacks on public facilities, particularly schools, would be met with decisive legal action.
The latest operations underscore the NSCDC’s intensified efforts to combat educational fraud, human trafficking, illegal migration and other organised crimes across Lagos State.
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