The operation was carried out in the early hours of Monday, July 20, 2026, in the Ilado area of Olorunda LCDA, Badagry, following days of intelligence gathering and surveillance.
Speaking after the raid, the Area Commander of NSCDC in Badagry, Chief Superintendent Gbenga Ekunola, said operatives rescued 106 young people from a three-bedroom apartment where the institution was allegedly operating.
How The Operation Was Carried Out
According to Ekunola, the command received credible intelligence about suspicious activities in the building and placed it under observation for several days before moving in.
“We received reliable information about what was going on there. Our officers monitored the location for days before carrying out the operation,” he said.
He confirmed that the alleged owner of the centre has been arrested and is assisting with investigations, while the rescued youths have been taken into protective custody.
No Name, No Signpost
The NSCDC commander disclosed that the centre had no registered name, no signboard and no recognized campus structure. It was said to be presenting itself online as a distance-learning centre affiliated with a foreign university.
Preliminary findings showed that most of the rescued youths are between 19 and 24 years old and were recruited from different parts of Nigeria, including Kogi, Oyo and some northern states.
Some of the victims were also said to have come from neighbouring West African countries such as Niger Republic, Cameroon and Togo after being contacted online.
Victims Paid Huge Fees
Investigations showed that the victims were asked to pay admission and processing fees ranging from N200,000 to N1.5 million. Foreign nationals were allegedly charged between $400 and $500 with the promise of securing admission into a foreign university.
Ekunola also noted that those who had already paid were encouraged to recruit other students in order to earn commissions.
He said all rescued persons would be properly profiled before being reunited with their families, while anyone found responsible for operating the illegal centre would be prosecuted in line with the law.
The NSCDC added that investigations have been expanded to trace other persons connected to the operation and to check if similar centres are operating in other parts of the country.
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