More Than a Scandal: What OAU's Catfishing Case Says About The Students

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Adétúnjí Olúwafémi 

When a university graduate, particularly the one who once walked in the same lecture halls, preys on the innocence of fellow students through deceit, the entire academic community is jolted, because it is usually tagged as "betrayal at its peaks." The recent trend on that an Obafemi Awolowo University graduate, Prince Momoh, orchestrated a catfishing scheme, under the guise of a female social media influencer named Priscilla (snapchat @girl_priscilla), is not only shameful, but deeply troubling and calls for caution, not just for OAU students but every social media users. The ''OAU Catfishing Scandal'' revealed how digital manipulation, materialism, and misplaced trust, coexist to victimize unsuspecting students.

In its rawest form, catfishing is an act of betrayal, usually a calculated construction of false identit(ies) to exploit others, whether emotionally, psychologically, and financially. What many fail to realize is that the Nigerian law already criminalizes such acts. The Cybercrime Act of 2015, clearly provide a penalty of Seven-years imprisonment or a fine of #5 million for offenders. However, the sad reality is that the crime unfolded within a university, an environment expected to nurture intellectuals. This further underscores the bitter reality that the digital age has widened the scope of exploitation, and the supposed abode of intellectuals (university campuses) are not immune.

The swift response of the Great Ife Students' Union deserves commendation. Their intellectual efforts in tracing and exposing the suspect, through the use of AI tools and their carefully planned bait-girl trap, to unmasked the perpetrator. Their actions demonstrated the relevance of active student unionism and activism, in safeguarding campus life. Nevertheless, one should not ignore the lingering questions: how can digital space within campuses be made safer? Should universities adopt strict cyber security policies or students themselves cultivate vigilance?

           Picture of Prince Momoh, the perpetrator 

Beyond the legal and institutional concerns, realistically, this scandal throws light on a deeper troubling cultural undercurrents. Many of the victims voluntarily admitted to exchanging their nude images for material promises, made by an unknown individual, who enticed them with offers of iPhones, money, and luxury perks. To call a spade a spade, this twofolds tragedy, lies not only in deceit from the perpetrator's end, but also the vulnerability of the victims, the supposed intellectuals who equate self-worth with material validation. This then raises questions: what orientation are these students receiving? What values guide them when luxury outshines their dignity? Without confronting these realities, catfishing and other similar manipulations will continue to thrive.

This case must not be reduced to gossip about one man's crime, OAU and other universities must see it as a wake-up call to prioritize digital literacy, online ethics, and psychological support. Mandatorily, students must totally refrain from exchanging their nudes, whether as a mutual exchange, or for a contest. Orientation programs, led by management, students' union, and relevant agencies must be set up, to sensitize the campus community on how their true worth is not defined by luxury gadgets, but the integrity of their academic and moral journey.

The OAU community must seize this moment, not merely to condemn the students involved, but rather to reaffirm that the campus remains the great citadel of knowledge, and sanctuary of intellectuals that it is known as. However, if the university is to remain a sanctuary of enlightenment, then the students must embrace intellectualism, not just in book knowledge, but also in character.



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