Inside the 'Hustle Kingdom': The Nigerian cybercrime schools turning jobless youth into digital fraudsters

A growing underground network known as the 'Hustle Kingdom' is reshaping cybercrime across Nigeria.

According to a joint study by researchers from the London School of Economics, the University of the Western Cape, and Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), 'Hustle Kingdom' represents more than crime; it's a symptom of social breakdown.

Dr Suleman Lazarus from the University of the Western Cape, who has interviewed both active and convicted cybercriminals, says the 'Hustle Kingdom' operates like a formal institution, complete with hierarchies, 'curricula', and even free accommodation for recruits.

Lazarus explains that entry into these schools is rarely forced. Instead, it’s driven by economic desperation and the lack of opportunity in societies where education is expensive and jobs are scarce.

"Under duress is too simplistic to frame it that way because some of them came into the institution through economic desperation."

Students receive free housing, laptops, and training, but are expected to repay their 'tuition' with a cut of their criminal earnings.

"It's like having a student loan. You come into Hustle Kingdom, it's free... but once the student graduates - that means start getting income from the victims or the client - then the repayment comes."

Lazarus says the promise of quick wealth makes the 'Hustle Kingdom' more attractive than traditional education for many young people seeking survival and independence.

"It's organised... the curriculum is broad. Every Hustle Kingdom has their own area of expertise."

He adds that these cybercrime schools have become a deviant response to broken systems, offering young men skills, belonging, and income, but at the cost of ethics and legality.

To listen to Dr Suleman Lazarus in conversation with CapeTalk's Clarence Ford, use the audio player below: