NANS Refutes EFCC Chairman’s Claims About Nigerian Students Being Fraudsters
NANS refutes EFCC Chairman's claims, defends Nigerian students against cyber crime allegations
Chukwuebuka Aniakor 
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has vehemently refuted the claims made by the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukayode, about the involvement of Nigerian students in cyber crimes.
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In a statement released on Monday, the EFCC Chairman had alleged that seven out of ten students today are involved in cyber crimes. This claim has been strongly criticized by NANS, who described it as an unsubstantiated assertion that tarnishes the reputation of the hardworking and dedicated student community in Nigeria.
Comrade Akinteye Afeez Babatunde, NANS Senate President, in a statement made available to Daily Independent, condemned the EFCC Chairman’s remarks, stating that they lacked any empirical basis. He emphasized that Nigerian students have consistently demonstrated excellence in academics, leadership, and community service, and labeling the majority of them as criminals is not only an injustice but also an irresponsible generalization.
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NANS asserted that it is essential to address the issue of crime without unfairly stigmatizing an entire group of students who are working diligently towards their educational and personal development. The association called on the EFCC Chairman to provide concrete evidence supporting such a sweeping statement or retract the statement immediately.
The association further reminded the EFCC Chairman that the past removal of two EFCC Chairmen was not due to the alleged criminal activities of Nigerian students but rather over issues related to fraud within the organization itself. This highlights the importance of addressing internal concerns rather than unfairly targeting innocent student populations.
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NANS warned the EFCC Chairman to be mindful of the potential consequences of his words and to respect the dignity of the student population, stating that failure to do so may inadvertently provoke the anger of Nigerian students across the country.
