AN EXAMINATION OF THE PREVALENCE OF CYBER CRIME AND ITS INFLUENCE OF ON POLYTECHNIC STUDENTS IN NIGERIA

AN EXAMINATION OF THE PREVALENCE OF CYBER CRIME AND ITS INFLUENCE OF ON POLYTECHNIC STUDENTS IN NIGERIA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTIION

1.1 Background Of The Study

Crime, as a major component of deviance, evolves over time. Crime changes in tandem with a given epoch and society due to changing social, economic, political, and geographical conditions (Haralambos and Holborn, 2004).

With the rapid advancement of technology in the twenty-first century, the world has become increasingly digital. Because of technological advancements, the world has shrunk to the size of a village (Harvey, 2010). The incorporation of information, communication, and technology (ICT) into many aspects of daily life has resulted in the modern concept of the information society (Akande, 2007). There are currently nearly 2 billion internet users and more than 5 billion mobile phone connections worldwide (Ogbunwezeh, 2006). According to a report,

According to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), there were more than 45 million internet users in Nigeria in 2011, accounting for more than 26.5% of the population.

Furthermore, the advancement of technology in cyberspace has made computers an essential component of national development. Regardless of the security level of cyberspace, criminal acts continue to occur. Criminal activity in cyberspace is now occurring on a global scale.

Crimes facilitated by the internet (cybercrime) have been observed to be primarily committed by Nigerian youth (Olaide and Adewole 2004). It’s also becoming more popular among university students. Okonigini (2013) defines cybercrime as computer-based criminal actions involving information technology infrastructure, such as unauthorized access to computer data from or within a computer. Cybercrime has been dubbed “one of the most serious crimes.”

one of the world’s fastest growing illegal enterprises.” It includes content-related offenses, infringements on intellectual property and trademarks, computer-related offenses, and infringements on computer data and system confidentiality, integrity, and availability (Wall, 2001). According to Okeshola (2016), cybercrime is a type of money-laundering scam that became popular in the early 1990s. Today, it has produced “YAHOO,” with the majority of its users being young people (particularly students and the jobless).

Identity theft, desktop counterfeiting, cyber harassment, fraudulent electronic mail, ATM spoofing, pornography, piracy, hacking, phishing, spamming, and other internet-assisted crimes are all prevalent in Nigeria today (Abimbola, 2016).

However, it is of public concern that the majority of Nigerian university students are increasingly contributing to the number of cyber-criminals. In Nigeria, who are the perpetrators of online fraud? (Ashaolu, 2011). As a result, most students disregard the purpose of their enrollment in university, as their primary goals are being diverted to participating in cybercrime for quick and large financial gains. Though the threat of cybercrime is increasing on university campuses, the application of legal penalties has proven ineffective because bribery has become the norm. As a result, only a few victims of these illegal acts have been apprehended, arrested, and expelled from their respective institutions (Okeshola, 2016). As a result, students have never stopped committing criminal acts. In relation to the ongoing, this study aims to investigate the

The prevalence of cybercrime has an impact on Nigerian polytechnic students.

1.2 Problem Description

According to Mali (2008), cybercrime is any criminal activity in which computers or networks are used as a tool, a target, or a venue. It has unique characteristics such as ambiguity, dynamism, speed of occurrence, anonymity, extraterritoriality, and so on, which make its control and prevention a difficult task for the international community, and it has found prevalence in Nigeria.

Mali (2008) defines cybercrime as any illegal behavior in which computers or networks are used as a tool, a target, or a location. Certain characteristics, such as ambiguity, dynamism, rapid recurrence, anonymity, diplomatic immunity, and so on, make it difficult to control and prevent.

It has been demonstrated that it is widespread in Nigeria by the international community. According to Tade (2013), the main reason for Nigerian youths’ increased involvement in cybercrime is a lack of a stable source of income. Students, on the other hand, are no longer willing to give their all to education because unemployment is on the rise. As a result, the majority of students in tertiary institutions sought alternative means of support because there are no government allowances and no job opportunities are guaranteed. As a result, the prevalence and growth of cybercrime in Nigeria has increased, as some students advance in the act while others remain enrolled despite the consequences.

It is, however, a matter of public concern.

that the majority of Nigerian university students have increased the number of cyber-criminals who commit online fraud in Nigeria (Okeshola, 2016). As a result, most students disregard the purpose of their enrollment in university, as their primary goals are being diverted to participating in cybercrime for quick and large financial gains. As a result, the preceding serves as the backdrop for this investigation.

1.3 The Study’s Objective

The overarching goal of this study is to investigate the prevalence of cybercrime and its impact on Nigerian polytechnic students. To accomplish this, the research will specifically:

1. Investigate the occurrence of cybercrime in Nigerian polytechnics.

2. Determine the motivations behind student cybercrime.

3.

Determine the types of cybercrime commonly committed by Nigerian polytechnic students.

4. Determine the impact of students’ involvement in cybercrime on their academic performance.

1.4 Research Issue

The following questions will guide this research:

1) What are the rates of cybercrime in Nigerian polytechnics?

2) What motivates students to engage in cybercrime?

3) What types of cybercrime are commonly committed by Nigerian polytechnic students?

4) Does student involvement in cybercrime have a negative impact on their academic performance?

1.5 The Study’s Importance

This study will be invaluable to Nigerian university stakeholders and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, as it will inform them of the increasing prevalence of cyber crime among students, as well as the dynamic ways in which students engage in cybercrime.

carry out cybercrime activities, as well as the reasons for doing so. Much more, this study will highlight the need to strictly punish students who engage in cybercrime as well as lecturers who encourage such heinous behavior.

Additionally, it will be used as a literature review by subsequent researchers. This means that other students who decide to conduct research in this area will be able to use this study as available literature for critical review. Invariably, the study’s findings add significantly to the body of academic knowledge about the prevalence of cybercrime and its impact on Nigerian polytechnic students.

1.7 Study Restrictions

As with any human endeavor, the researcher encountered minor setbacks.

While conducting the research, there were some constraints. Inadequate funds tend to impede the researcher’s efficiency in locating relevant materials, literature, or information and in the data collection process, which is why the researcher resorted to a limited sample size. Furthermore, the researcher conducted this study while also working on other academic projects. As a result, the time spent researching will be reduced.

1.6 The Study’s Scope

The general focus of this study is on the prevalence of cybercrime and its impact on Nigerian polytechnic students. Furthermore, the study will investigate the prevalence of cybercrime in Nigerian polytechnics, identify the reasons why students engage in cybercrime, and identify the types of cybercrime commonly committed by students.

polytechnic students in Nigeria, and determine the impact of students’ involvement in cybercrime on their academic performance. As a result, this research will be limited to the Federal Polytechnic in Nekede, Imo State.

1.7 Study Restrictions

The researcher encountered minor constraints while conducting the study, as with any human endeavor. Inadequate funds tend to impede the researcher’s efficiency in locating relevant materials, literature, or information and in the data collection process, which is why the researcher resorted to a limited sample size. Furthermore, the researcher conducted this study while also working on other academic projects. As a result, the time spent researching will be reduced.

1.8 Terms Definition

A crime is an unlawful act.

punishable by the state or another authority. In modern criminal law, there is no simple and universally accepted definition of crime, though statutory definitions have been provided for specific purposes.

Cybercrime: A crime involving a computer and a network. The computer could have been used to commit a crime or it could be the target. Cybercrime can jeopardize a person’s security and financial health.

Internet fraud is the use of Internet services or software with Internet access to defraud or otherwise take advantage of victims.