CHAPTER ONE

Introduction

1.1 Background to the Study

The criminal area that has witnessed some rapid increase within Nigeria includes the rise in cybercrime; this is because of increased internet usage, electronic banking, and the use of technology by youths being ranked as the top reasons for this trend. The phrase "Yahoo Yahoo" has become associated with cybercrime in Nigeria, which entails activities like online scams, phishing, romance scams, hacking, among other related illegal acts. Because of the prevalence of such crimes around the world, there is an association between Nigeria and cybercrime, where many youths have Thus, these young people have become involved in cyber frauds.

Part of what has driven the increase in cybercrime has been social and economic problems like poverty and unemployment. This country has a lot of youth, most of whom lack job opportunity. As a result of this, the allure of engaging in cybercrime as a source of income generation has become all the more attractive to the youth. In addition to this, it can be noted that the glorification of fraudsters along with wealth regardless of how it was made has been detrimental to the problem.

It is important to note that cybercrime has been shown to cost Nigeria and the international community billions of dollars every year, according to recent research. As noted by the Nigerian Communications Commission and other authorities, there have been advances made in the field of cybercrime because the perpetrators use modern technology and social manipulation tactics on their victims (NCC, 2024). Furthermore, the anonymous nature of cyberspace complicates the prosecution process.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The increasing engagement of youths from Nigeria in cybercrime creates many risks to the development process, economic sustainability, and reputation among the international community. Even with the actions of relevant bodies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), cybercrime remains rampant in the region. Many youths consider cybercrime as a low-risk yet high-gain endeavor.

Moreover, the absence of an efficient approach towards preventing cybercrime and its lack of enforcement makes the issue more prevalent. Some of the repercussions include the loss of finances, distrust of digital technology, and harm to the reputation of the country within the international community (UNODC, 2024).

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1.4 Research Questions

1.5 Hypotheses

1.6 Significance of the Study

This research is important because it will shed light on the causes of cybercrime amongst the youths in Nigeria. The outcomes of this study will help policymakers, law enforcers, teachers, and academics to develop strategies to combat the vice. Additionally, the results will also play an important role in fostering ethical internet use in Nigeria.

1.7 Scope of the Study

The study focuses on cybercrime activities in Nigeria between 2023 and 2025, with particular emphasis on youth involvement, causes, patterns, and prevention strategies.

1.8 Limitation of the Study

The research is constrained by various limitations like lack of access to sensitive information, under-reporting of cases, and the use of secondary data. Also, the dynamic nature of cybercrimes might make some of the results outdated in the future.

CHAPTER TWO

Literature Review

2.1 Introduction

This chapter highlights previous research works done on cybercrime among youths in Nigeria, highlighting its causative factors, trends, preventive measures, and the impacts of cybercrime on national development from the perspective of scholars.

According to recent findings, cybercrime in Nigeria is primarily driven by economic and social factors such as unemployment, poverty, and poor educational opportunities. Scholars have found that young people often commit cybercrimes because of their need for money to pay their bills and live comfortably, and they think it is easy to become wealthy quickly. The effects of peer influence and social media platforms significantly impact the attitudes towards cybercrime (Olayemi, 2024).

The review also shows that cybercrime has some predictable trends in Nigeria, which include emails scams, romance fraud, BEC crimes, and cryptocurrency fraud. Criminals often rely on various social engineering methods to lure victims into sharing their confidential information. Besides, technology-driven cyberattacks, which involve malware and artificial intelligence, are on the rise (Interpol, 2024).

Scholars have pointed out that one of the ways that cybercrime negatively affects the economy is through loss of money and decrease in foreign investors. It also wrecks Nigeria's image in the world and makes people lose confidence in online media. The extensive use of digital technologies exposes the country more to cyber attacks and therefore, there is a need for better cybersecurity measures of Nigeria (UNODC, 2024).

Also, prevention strategies studies highlight the necessity of a multi-layered approach that involves legal provisions, public awareness initiatives and training for law enforcement agencies. Nigerian government has enacted laws such as Cybercrimes (Prohibition Prevention etc.) Act but has been finding the implementation difficult. For that matter, interaction among government, private sector and international organizations is also vital for successful cybercrime prevention (EFCC, 2024).