ASSESSMENT OF YOUTHS AND INTERNET CRIME IN NIGERIA (A CASE STUDY OF WARRI SOUTH LGA)
CHAPTERÂ ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1Â Â Background to the study
According to techopedia (2016), the concept intercept crime is any crime or illegal online activity committed on the internet, through the internet or using the internet. Internet crime is a strong branch of cybercrime which includes identity theft, internet scams and cyber net crime as crimes that involve the use of a computer and networks in its execution.
These crimes are committed on the internet using the computer as either a tool or a target victim. According to him there is an alarming spread of internet crimes. Types of internet crime includes cyber bullying and harassment financial extortion, internet bomb threats, classified global security data theft, password trafficking, enterprise trade secret theft, personally data hacking, copyright violations such as piracy, counterfeit trademarks illegal weapon trafficking, online child pornography, credit card theft and fraud, email phishing, domain name hijacking, virus spreading e.t.c.
The contribution of internet to the development of internet to the development of the nation has been marred by the evolution of new waves of crime. The internet has also become an environment where the most lucrative and safest crime thrives. Cyber or internet crime has come as a surprise and a strange phenomenon that for now lives with us in Nigeria. Akogwe (2012) noted that with each passing day, we witness more and more alarming cases of cyber crimes in Nigeria, with each new case more shocking than the one before.
The youth in every society is of great importance and concern to that society because they are looked upon as the leaders of tomorrow. Olaidede and Adewole (2004), observed that a sizeable number of criminals in Nigeria fall within the youthful age. The youths at present have discovered different ways of using the internet in doing different types of criminal activities and these age brackets are usually found in tertiary institutions in Nigeria. These internet crimes being committed by youths in Nigeria is currently on the increase as more youths in Nigeria are becoming aware of the various activates that can be done on the internet.
Furthermore, Agba (2012) noted that youths in Nigeria are faced with so many economic challenges such as poverty, corruption, unemployment e.t.c which further prompt them to participate in various internet crimes. According to Sesan (2010) Â a 2007 internet crime report listed Nigeria third in terms of online crime activity and the prevalence of young Nigerians. Although Mc Connel (2000), argued that cyber crimes differ from most terrestrial crimes in four ways which are
They are easy to learn, they require few resources relative to the potential damage caused, they can be committed in a junsdiction without being physically present and they are often not clearing illegal. As such, internet crime has become one of the major security issues for law enforcement agencies and the world in general.
Ribadu (2007) stated that most internet crimes in Nigeria were committed by youths between the ages of twenty (20) and thirty five (35) years in Southern part of Nigeria. He further stated that the prominent forms of internet crimes in Nigeria are cloning of website, false representations, internet purchase and other e-commerce kind of fraud.
