Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Badagry Area Command, have uncovered an unaccredited institution operating secretly out of a three-bedroom residential apartment in Ilado, within the Olorunda Local Council Development Area of Lagos State.

Following days of covert surveillance and intelligence gathering, law enforcement officers raided the facility in an early-morning operation, apprehending the alleged proprietor and taking 106 young individuals into protective custody. The suspected syndicate operated without official registration, physical signboards, or an authorized campus, marketing itself online under the guise of a distance-learning affiliate connected to an offshore university.

Investigations revealed that the scheme targeted young adults primarily aged between 19 and 24, drawing victims from various Nigerian states including Oyo and Kogi, alongside foreign nationals recruited from neighboring West African countries such as Togo, Cameroon, and Niger.

Victims were induced to pay steep processing and admission fees ranging from ₦200,000 to over ₦1.5 million—with foreign students charged upwards of $500—under the false promise of earning recognized tertiary degrees.

Beyond extortionate fees, the recruitment structure functioned similarly to a pyramid scheme, pressuring enrolled students to bring in additional paying candidates to maintain their standing or secure financial incentives.

The NSCDC confirmed that the rescued youths are receiving administrative support while investigators work alongside relevant education authorities to dismantle the syndicate completely. Officials warned prospective students and guardians to verify the accreditation status of all higher institutions with regulatory bodies before transferring funds or accepting admission offers.

The arrested ringleader remains in custody as authorities finalize charges bordering on advanced fee fraud, illegal operation of an educational institution, and criminal exploitation.