A disturbing trend is raising concern in Ekiti State as some secondary school students are reportedly abandoning their classrooms for internet fraud, with EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede warning that the situation could have serious consequences for the future of the state.
Olukoyede, an indigene of Ikere-Ekiti, said teenagers who should be preparing for examinations are allegedly spending school hours in hotels learning online scam techniques and looking for quick money.
He said the problem goes beyond internet fraud, alleging that some individuals involved in cybercrime have also become linked to money laundering and kidnapping.
The development has reportedly become so entrenched that some parents of suspected young fraudsters in Ikere-Ekiti and Ado-Ekiti have formed a group popularly called “Iya Omo Ologo.”
Meanwhile, the EFCC’s arrival in Ekiti has reportedly affected businesses that previously depended heavily on the spending of suspected internet fraudsters.
Hotel operators, lounge owners, traders and car dealers have complained of reduced patronage, although the EFCC insists its operations are designed to protect legitimate businesses rather than destroy them.
The commission also faces another challenge: ensuring that its crackdown does not turn into blanket suspicion of young Nigerians making legitimate money online.
Experts have pointed out that software development, cryptocurrency, forex, digital marketing, content creation and remote work can all generate substantial income without any criminal activity.
Their message is clear: fight cybercrime aggressively, but do not criminalise legitimate success.
For Ekiti, the challenge now is to restore the value of education, discourage the glorification of unexplained wealth and ensure that young people see legitimate skills and entrepreneurship as viable paths to success.
