Understanding youths' perception and factors advancing cybercrime (yahoo-yahoo) in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria

Abstract

Previous studies on cybercrime in Nigeria have largely been conducted with the intention of understanding its influence on economy and country's reputation, with little attention devoted to youths' perception and issues promoting cybercrime. This study seeks to address this gap by understanding youths' perception and factors advancing cybercrime with a special focus on Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. A total of 20 respondents were purposively selected from the identified youth population and the semi-structured interview type was employed to elicit qualitative data from the identified respondents. While the NVivo (v.12) qualitative software was used to identify themes from the transcript interview, the content analysis technique was employed to make sense of the themes. The Rational Choice Theory was used as a theoretical leaning to understand the presuppositions raised in the study. Findings show falsification of identity and impersonation, the use of diabolical powers/charms to hypnotize victims, and the belief system that cybercrime is seen as routine work where wage is expected as perception of cybercrime. Similarly, there is an evidence to support the claim that social media tools are robustly employed to perpetrate cybercrime. On the question of factors advancing cybercrime, the study found poor economic performance and youths‘ unemployment, weak law enforcement agencies and the challenge of corruption, and environmental and peer group influence as factors promoting cybercrime. The study recommends a robust investment on youth empowerment programmes, wealth creation and value orientation in addition to responsive and corrupt-free law enforcement agencies as critical to addressing the scourge of cybercrime.