The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has criticised comments made by Ola Olukoyede, who claimed that six out of every ten university students in Nigeria are involved in cybercrime, popularly known as “yahoo yahoo.”

In a statement released on Tuesday, April 28, NANS Senate President, Usman Adamu Nagwaza, described the allegation as misleading and harmful to the reputation of Nigerian students both locally and internationally.

The student body labelled the claim as “fallacious and unfortunate,” warning that such sweeping statements unfairly portray students as criminals and could damage confidence in Nigeria’s education system. NANS also accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of appearing to focus more on cybercrime allegations involving youths while allegedly paying less attention to corruption cases linked to politicians.

According to NANS, the majority of Nigerian students are law-abiding individuals committed to their studies, personal development, and contributing positively to society. The association stressed that students should not be defined by criminal activities carried out by a few individuals.

NANS further called on Olukoyede to withdraw the statement, arguing that such remarks could tarnish the image of Nigerian students and weaken public trust in higher institutions across the country.

While reaffirming its support for efforts to combat financial crimes, the association urged government agencies to ensure accuracy, fairness, and responsibility in their public statements.