




































114 
 

 

 

 

Osayi, Kelechi K. & Opara, Ejimofor 

 

Abstract  

The emergence of the cyber space has given rise to a new face of social relationship characterized by 

increased interaction among young people. This like, the physical space, has given rise to a peculiar 

form of criminality inimical to societal development. It is against this background that this paper 

aimed at examining the socio-economic determinants of cybercrimes among young people and its 

implications for sustainable development in Nigeria. This study was anchored on the premise of 

Differential Association and Space Transition Theories. It was conducted in Owerri Municipal Local 

Government Area with a sample size of two hundred and fifty (250). The 250 participants were chosen 

through simple random and purposive sampling techniques. The Questionnaire and In-depth 

Interview Schedule were the major instruments for data collection. Quantitative data collected were 

analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), while narrative quotes were used in 

the analysis of qualitative data. Findings from the study revealed that unemployment, crave for quick 

money, low income, bad company and poverty were the major determinants of cybercrimes. The study 

showed a Significant relationship between level of educational attainment and being a victim of 

cybercrime. It was therefore recommended among many others that the government should capitalize 

on the opportunities that abound in the cyber space to create job for the teaming number of young 

people in the country as well as help initiate, together with other stakeholders, sensitization 

programmes to educate people on the implications of cybercrimes to societal development in Nigeria.  

 

Introduction  

Each phase of societal development has been characterized by a unique pattern of crime. The 

breakthrough in digital technology has carried communication and commerce across the globe. This 

breakthrough has led to explosions of crime and criminality in the cyber space, therefore posing novel 

challenges to societal development. The prevalence of cyber-crime and its threat to Electronic 

commerce (E-Commerce) and critical infrastructure systems and indeed sustainable development have 

elicited serious global concerns (Ndubueze, 2009), equally of global concern is the ability of law 

enforcement to keep pace with its prevalence and sophistication. A consensus seems to be emerging  

·  

 

 

 

 

  

SOCIO-ECONOMIC DETERMINANTS OF CYBER CRIME: 

IMPLICATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 



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Socio-Economic Determinants of Cyber Crime: Implication/or Sustainable Development 

among researchers that existing legislations are not enough to effectively prosecute cyber 

criminals  (Daramola, 2008; Jaishanker, Pang and Hyde, 2008; Kyungshick, 2006; Nayak, 

2008). 

As the criminal justice system grapples with the challenges of bringing within its purview 

cyber mis-conduct hitherto uncovered by law; the scope and dimensions of cyber-crimes keep 

increasing changing. Cyber-crime raises very critical security issues. Mansel (2005) 

observers that the cyber space raises issues that are fundamental to individual and collective 

human society and security. Brenner (2007), elaborating on the concept of cyber-crime noted 

that just like traditional crimes, for there to be cyber-crime, four (4) elements must be 

present; actus reus (The prohibited act or failing to act when one is under obligation); 

Mensrea (a culpable mental state); Attendant circumstances (the existence of certain 

necessary conditions); and harm resulting to person or property. The variants of cyber-crime 

are many, most common being phising, hacking, identity theft, cyber stalking, securities 

fraud, online gambling etc. (Ndubueze, 2009). "Cyber-crime is emerging as a major 

criminological issue (Roberts, 2008: I). The first conference entirely devoted to cyber 

criminology also referred to as "virtual criminology" was held in Spoken Valley, WA, United 

States in October, 2006 (Jaishanker, 2007). Cyber-crime represents a new phenomenon in 

criminal activity, the globalisation of criminal conduct (Brenner, 2001). This globalization of 

criminal conduct as stimulated by the globalisation of the new information and 

communication technology (ICT) which created borderless free market, where cyber-crime 

has international repercussion (Foggeti, 2003). Li (2007: 22) opined that, "The network 

context of cyber-crime makes it one of the most globalized offences of the present and the 

most modernised threat of the future".  

 

Furthermore, McAfee Virtual Criminology Report (2007) found that governments and allied 

groups were using the internet in cyber spying and cyberattacks Critical national 

infrastructure network systems such as electricity, air traffic control, financial market and 

government computer networks are targets. About 120 countries now use the internet for web 

espionage operations. Cyber assaults have progressed from initial curiosity probes to well-

funded and well organized political, military, economic and technical espionage (Ndubueze, 

2009). Concerns on the use of the internet for cyber terrorism are rising. There are hundreds 

of terrorist websites on the internet (Weimann, 2004). Terrorist groups frequently use the 

internet to communicate, raise funds and gather intelligence on future targets (Hydes, 2007). 

Evidence suggests that terrorists used the internet to plan their operations on September II, 

200 I against the United States of America (USA). Mohammed Atter who led the attack made 

his ticket reservation online (Wilson, 2003). Peter Cheriff, a French citizen, was recruited by 

AI Qaeda over the internet while resident in France (Powel, Carsen, Walt, Gibson and Gerlin, 

2005). Consequently, the proposal for the restructuring of the U.S Federal Bureau of 

Investigation (FBI) provoked by the September II, 200 I terrorist attack had its top priorities 

for the future as counterterrorism, counter-intelligence and cyber security as well as hi-

technology crimes (Muller in Etter, 2002).  

  



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Challenges of Sustainable Development: A Social Science Approach 

 

 

On July 30, 2009 relevant stakeholders in Nigeria gathered in Abuja to review an 

international convention on cyber-crime. The treaty was the first on the issue that deals with 

infringement of copyright, computer-related fraud, child pornography and violation of 

network security (Anuforo, 2009). Foggetti (2003) distinguishes cyber-crime from other 

criminal activities and underscores the nature of cyberattack. He observes that the 

distinguishing feature of cyber-crime is basically its cross-border nature. It is usually difficult 

to identify the Locus Commissidelicti (the place where the offence was committed) when the 

offender uses information and telemetric means to commit the offence. He further noted that 

the attackers may violate several computer systems with just one illegal access and carryout 

several unlawful operations on computers which are interconnected, but physically located in 

different countries or territories.  

 

Internet Crime Complaint Centre (lC3) statistics graphically depicts the international trends 

of cyber-crime form January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2004; according to the source, IC3 

websites received 207,449 complaints submission. This is a 66.6% increase over 2003 when 

124,509 complaints primarily related to the internet were received. Internet auction fraud was 

the most reported offence constituting 71.2% of the reported fraud complaints (lC3,' 2005). 

The latest report released by IC3 (2008) shows that it possessed more than 219,553 

complaints in 2007. The total dollar loss from all reported cases of fraud was $680.00 per 

case.  

 

This was an increase from $198.44 million in total reported losses in 2006. Statistics from 

other sources tend to support the increasing incidence of cyber-crime. Puliam (2005) found 

that attack on the government, financial services, manufacturing and health care industries 

cost over 50% in 2005. This exposes societies to the negative consequences of 

underdevelopment, especially the third world countries in the 21st century. In December, 

2004 one in every 52 e-mails contained a malicious security threat, such as virus attack. By 

June, 2005, it increased to one in every 28 e-mails. (eBay, 2006). The average annual loss 

reported by US companies more than doubled, from $168,000 in 2004 report to $350,424 in 

2005 survey. Security survey (2007) found that financial fraud over took virus attacks as the 

source of the greatest financial loss. Insider abuse of network access or e-mail (such as 

trafficking in pornography or pirated software) edged out virus incidents as the most 

prevalent security problem with 59% and 52% respondents reporting each respectively.  

 

Furthermore, in the analysis of prosecution of network attack from 1999-2006, the 

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) found that individual attacks 

caused as much as $10 million in damages to individuals. Organizations suffered the 

greatest financial loss and damage, more than $1.5 million per occurrence; this is very 

inimical to the country's drive to her vision 2020:20. However, 84% of these crimes could 
have been prevented if the identity of the computers connecting to the web were checked 

in addition to user I.Ds and passwords (EFCC reports, 2007). A survey of 1,150 internet 

users in Lagos revealed that 94% of the respondents felt that identity theft is a serious 

problem. The survey reinforced the fact that the much bigger story was the amount of  
  



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Socio-Economic Determinants of Cyber Crime: Implication/or Sustainable Development 

 

money that is not getting spent. As stories of identity theft became more common, internet 

users are becoming less confident about making purchases online. It also found that a 

majority (50%) of internet users avoided making purchases on the internet because they were 

afraid that their financial information could get stolen. Almost half (49%) of internet users 

who were worried about their financial information getting stolen said that they did not make 

purchase on the internet (SIA digital Confidence Index Survey, 2006).  

 

The internet has also witnessed an influx of sexual predators that use the platform to lure and 

victimize vulnerable children. A study on virtual (cyber) sex offending conducted in the 

United States involving 22 clients seen through a centre for online addiction revealed that all 

the clients were men who were arrested for engaging in sexual misconduct with minors using 

the internet. They aged 34 to 48 with mean of 38.5% who were employed in white-collar jobs 

mainly as engineers, doctors or lawyers, 17% were blue collar workers mainly working in 

factories, 15% were unemployed and 10% had some disabilities. In all cases, clients partook 

in paedophilic themed adult client rooms, unknowingly chatting with a Federal agent or 

police officer who posed online as a minor (Young, 2008).  

 

In their study of the role of internet access points in the facilitation of cyber-crimes in Nigeria 

Longe and Chiemeke (2008), used statistical and simple random sampling to select a total of 

50 cyber cases across four locations in South-Western Nigeria and analyzed a total of 232 

validly filled and returned questionnaires. The study revealed that spamming activities 

remained prevalent among Nigerian internet users and that cyber cafes, more than any other 

internet access point, had facilitated cyber-crime. The study also found a steady increase in 

the use of the internet for news, travel information and sports and a decline in pornographic 

viewing which they attributed to content future used by most cyber cafes.  

 

A survey conducted by IT news Africa in December, 2008, with subjects drawn from 

information and communication technology comprising, Christian society, policy makers, 

and the general public, revealed widespread concern over Nigeria's battered image across its 

borders because of high level and sophisticated incidences of cyber-crime. The respondents 

were worried that internet pornography, abuse of online visa application and online banking, 

among other felonies were on the increase in the country (IT news Africa, 2009). Cybercrime 

incidences and statistics from some African countries, most Particularly, Nigeria, Ghana and 

South Africa have damaging impact on images and economies of these countries.  

 

The Problem  

One of the first publicised cyber-crimes occurred in November, 1988 in the United States. A 

23years old student, Robert Morris, launched a virus (Morris worm) on the internet. Over 

6,000 computers of the estimated 60,000 systems linked to the internet at that time were. 

infected. It cost about $100 million (US Dollars) to repair the infected systems. Morns got a 

sentence of 3years probation and a $10,000 fine (StanBaugh, Beaupre, Icove, Baker, 

Cassedey and William, 2001). In 2008, companies worldwide lost more than 1 

ooooooooooooo 
 

  



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Challenges of Sustainable Development: A Social Science Approach 

 

 

trillion, U.S dollars on intellectual property due to data theft and cyber-crime (McAfee 2009).  

 

Cyber-crime is a widespread and growing global problem. According to the 2008 world 

internet crime report released by the internet crime complaint center (lC3, 2009); internet 

related criminal activities resulted in about $264.4 million reported losses, Showing a 

significant increase from $239.1 trillion in 2007. A majority of the 72,940 cases referred for 

investigation by IC3 involved 'alleged fraud and had a median financial loss of $931.0. 

Again, there is an increase from $239.1 million in 2007. The details of the report showed 

that; perpetrators were predominantly males (77.4%). The majority of the reported 

perpetrators were from the United States, but a significant number were located in the United 

Kingdom (UK), Nigeria, Canada, China and South Africa. The United States with 61.1 % of 

reported cyber-crimes, top the list of cyber-crime prone countries, followed by the U.K 

(10.5%) then Nigeria (7.5%), Canada (3.1 %), China (1.6%), South Africa (0.7%), Ghana 

(0.6%), Italy (0.5%) and Romania (0.5%). Males comprised 55.4% of the complainants 

nearly half were between the ages 30-50. While most were from the United States, the IC3 

received numerous complaints from Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, India and France. 

Male complainants reported losing more money than females at a ratio of $1.69 to every $1 

lost per female. Electronic mails (E-mail) at 74.0% and web pages at 28.9% were the two 

primary vehicles for the fraudulent contacts.  

 

Studies show that over 80% of all E-mail is spam (Dickson, 2008). Children are not 

exempted from cyber-crime victimization. According to the Lowa Internet Crime Against 

Children Taskforce (2009), I in 7 children between the ages 10-17 are sexually solicited 

online. Child exploitation occurs in all income groups and cultural backgrounds (Ndubeze, 

2009). The internet contains about 372 million online pages of pornography (Mach and 

LiederBach cited in Mears, Manichi, Gertz and Bratton, 2008).  

 

Cyber-crime has joined the list of problems plaguing Nigerian, and impeding her growth and 

development; Culminating in the listing of Nigeria as the third on the roll of top ten cyber-

crime host spots in the world by a 2008 internet crime report (lC3, 2009). The enormity of 

this problem can be better appreciated when we consider the fact that in spite of several 

interventions made by the Nigeria Government in tackling cyber-crime, Nigeria has for three 

consecutive years (2006, 2007 and 2008) ranked third on the list of world cyber-crime 

perpetrator countries. Again, the latest IC3 data released recently showed a rise in cyber-

crime in Nigeria 5.7% in 2007 to 7.5% in 2008 of world reported cases (IC3, 2009).  

 

The erstwhile EFCC Boss in Nigeria, Ribadu (2007: 15) traced the origin of cyber-crime and 

criminality in Nigeria, when he declared in West African sub-regional meeting on advanced 

fee fraud that:  

In no time the traditional Nigerian value of honesty, integrity 

and hard work faced its rudest challenge as this new culture of 

dishonesty eroded all that was admirable and noble about us  

  



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Socio-Economic Determinants of Cyber Crime: Implication/or Sustainable Development 

especially in our urban conurbation. Scammers became the new 

Princes of achievement and the symbol of excellence, living well on 

stolen funds. In the face of tepid law enforcement environment, the 

late 90s announced a curious interface where crime and technology 

became engaged in an incestuous intercourse with the emergence of 

mobile telephone and the internet around the year 1997. Suddenly, 

the problem escalated faster and cheaper in the face of masked 

identities of the perpetrators who found cosy shields in the 

anonymous ambience of the cyber space.  

 

The phenomenal growth in the number of internet users around the world has increased the 

number of potential vulnerabilities of cyber attacks. Internet world statistics (2009) puts the 

number of internet users around the world at 1,574,313,184 (approximately 1.5 billion) as at 

December 31, 2008. The statistics further showed that in Nigeria, internet users grew from 

200,000 (two hundred thousand) in 2000 to 10,000,000 (ten million) in 2008. Moritz (2008) 

observes that Nigerians access the internet in many ways; 53% through Very Small Aperture 

Terminal. (VSAT)·link, 19% through wireless microwave links and 14% through Digital 

Subscriber Line (DSL). Many of these sessions are through cyber cafes as very few Nigerians 

own personal computers (Ndubueze, 2009).  

 

Awareness of cyber security in Nigeria started with the press and covered all crucial areas 

(Udotai, 2008). As a critical intervention, the Federal Government of Nigeria in 2004- 

established a cyber-crime working group known as the Nigeria Cyber Working Group 

(NCGW), comprised all key law enforcement, security, intelligence and information 

communication technology (ICT) organizations. Consequently, former President, Olusegun 

Obasanjo on June 5, 2006 signed a new law (Advanced Fee Fraud and other related act, 

2006) to combat cyber-crime and fraud related offences in Nigeria (E-Nigeria, 2006).  

 

Former EFCC Chairperson, Mrs. Farida Waziri, in 2008 stated that the commission 

arrested 136 cyber-crime suspects in 28 raids across Nigeria. She noted that 60 suspects 
were arrested in the South-West, 39 in the South-East, 26 in the South-South and I J .n the 

Entire North (Odapu, 2008). This breakdown indicated that the South-East ranked second 

behind the South-West, as region prone to the activities of cyber criminals than the rest of 

the zones in Nigeria. Recently, the EFCC arraigned 58 suspects in court for various 

cybercrimes. Out of this number, seven (7) were charged with operating cyber cafes not 

registered with the commission and for failing to obtain the particulars of their customers, 

required by law (Nwosu, 2008). The war against cyber- crime is far from being over. 

Uwaje (2009:27) projects that "Cyber-crime and cyber security activities will increase by 

about 53% in the next decade (2010-2015) worldwide." Despite govern rent's 
intervention, the problem of cyber-crime has continued to escalate. Odapu (2008) opines 

that cyber-crime is at an all-time high rate in Nigeria, as cyber cafe owners sometimes 

collaborate with fraudsters. He further stated that, internet services being offered by  
  



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Challenges of Sustainable Development: A Social Science Approach 

 

 

Starcomms, Zoom mobile, Visa phone, Multi-links and other telephone operators also 

provide venue for cyber-crime commission. Some cyber fraudsters aged between IS. 2Syears 

also carryout these illegal activities in their homes and hotel rooms (Ndubueze 2009).   

 

The former speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole warned 

that the high incidence of online fraud involving Nigerians could delay the Country's vision 

to rank among the best 20 economies of the world by the year 2020 (Ameh, 2009). Despite 

the fact that cyber-crimes have become a serious problem in Nigeria, there is no available 

statistics on its patterns and trends. There is not reliable data on the social and economic 

determinant of cyber-crimes. This study will therefore, attempt to fill the gap in the study of 

cyber-crimes in Nigeria by focusing on the Social and economic determinants of cyber-

crimes and its implication for sustainable development in Owerri Municipal Local 

Government Area of Imo State. .  

 

Objectives of the Study  

Consequent upon the foregoing, the major objectives of the study include:  

1. To ascertain the types of cyber-crimes in Owerri Municipal Local Government 

Area of Imo State.  

2. To ascertain the economic factors that necessitates the occurrence of cyber-crimes 

in Owerri Municipal Local Government Area of Imo State.  

3. To discover the social factors that give rise to cyber-crime in Owerri Municipal 

Local Government Area in Imo State.  

4. To ascertain the most effective and efficient ways to curb the incidence of cyber- 

crime in Owerri Municipal Local Government Area of Imo State.  

 

Theoretical Framework  

The Differential Association Theory of Sutherland (1939) and the Space Transition Theory of 

Jaishanker (2007) provide analytical framework for this study. A combination of the two 

provides an ideal context in which one can understand the Socio-economic determinants of 

cyber-crime. Cyber technology is complex and requires some expertise to manipulate. An 

individual needs to learn beyond the basics of computer programming to manipulate the 

cyber space. Cyber-crimes take place in the cyber space where the offenders are less likely to 

be tracked.' The differential association theory enables us understand fully the process 

involved in learning and reinforcement of the techniques of cyber-crime and how these 

constitute, to a reasonable extent, a "push factor to cybercrime commission: In Nigeria where 

there is no serious pro-active mechanism to checkmate cyber-crime, cyber criminals still hit 

their targets, amass wealth and receive the approval of their admirers.  

 

The Space Transition Theory tends to cover some aspects not captured in the Differential 

Association Theory. Space transition basically involves the movement of persons from one 

space to another. Cyber criminals behave differently when they move from the 

oooooooooooo 
  



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Socio-Economic Determinants of Cyber Crime: Implication/or Sustainable Development 

 

physical space to the cyber space, the relative anonymity the cyber space offers as well as the 

relative speed with which a target could be hit are strong motivations for cyber-crime 

commission. Some terrorist groups are known to recruit and train their members online to 

carryout attack in the physical world. Some criminal groups in Nigeria who operate in the 

physical space may conflict with those of the cyber space. For example, one may be lured 

easily into disclosing some personal information on the internet by an impersonator than 

when the person comes physically, Therefore, the differential association and space transition 

theories were adopted as the theoretical framework to guide this study, because both of them 

are the most relevant, suitable and appropriate theories for this nature of study.  

 

Study Hypotheses  

The following hypotheses were formulated to guide this study;  

 

i.  There is a significant relationship between respondents' occupation and their 

perception of people's involvement in cybercrime  

ii.  There is a significant relationship between respondents' level of educational 

attainment and their tendency of being victim of cybercrime.  

 

Methodology   

The area of this study was Owerri Municipal Local Government Area of lmo State. Owerri 

Municipal is one of the three (3) councils in Owerri Imo State. It is located in South-East 

Nigeria with an area of 58 square kilometers (knr2). The 2006 Nigerian census indicated that 

there are 62,405 males and 64,807 females in Owerri Municipal Local Government Area of 

Imo State. Thus, there are 127,212 persons in Owerri Municipal Local Government Area 

(NPC, 2009:834 & 835). The target population for this study included persons between the 

ages 18 and 64. 8esides, the age category covers majority of cyber cafe users in Owerri 

Municipal Local Government Area. It is very rare to find people over the age of 65 years 

patronizing cyber cafes. The sample size was 250.  

 

The purposive sampling technique and the simple random sampling technique were used for 

this study. The purposive sampling is a variant of the non-probability sampling technique 

(Oranye, 2003) was employed in choosing two (2) cyber cafe's from each of the five (5) 

communities that make up Owerri Municipal Local Government Area. Bringing the total 

number of cyber cafes surveyed to ten (10). The simple random sampling is a type of 

probability sampling technique (Aniekwe, 2005). The balloing method of the simple random 

sampling technique was adopted in selecting twenty-five (25) cyber cafe users from each of 

the ten (10) cyber cafe's earlier chosen to make up 250 respondents to whom the 

questionnaires were administered. While ten (10) cyber cafe operators were selected for the 

in-depth interview, bringing the total number of respondents for the study to 260.  
  



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Challenges of Sustainable Development: A Social Science Approach 

 

 

Findings  

 

A uniform set of 250 questionnaires were 'administered out of which four (4) Were wrongly 

filled. Thus, bringing the total number of correctly filed and returned questionnaires to 246. 

Also the in-depth interviews were successfully conducted with ten (10) cyber cafe operators. 

Therefore, 246 correctly filled and returned questionnaires and data gotten from the IDI were 

used for analysis in this study.  

 

Types of Cybercrimes in Owerri Municipal Local Government Area  

TABLE 1: Distribution of Respondents on the Most Common Type of Cyber Crime  

 

Response Frequency Percentage  

 

Hacking 55 22.4% 

Cracking 8 3.3% 

ATM Fraud  88 35.8% 

Pornography  59 24.0% 

Fake Identity  20 8.1% 

Virus Attacks 4 1.6% 

Don’t know  12 4.8% 

Total 246 100 

Source: Field Survey, 2011.  

 

The above table indicates that 35.8% of the respondents identified A ™ fraud as the most 

common types of cyber-crime. The table further shows that 24.0% of the respondents 

affirmed that pornography is the most common type of cyber-crime in Owerri Municipal 

Local Government Area. An IDI respondent responds thus;  

 

There are different types of cyber-crime in Owerri, 

but the most common I think, is ATM fraud One 

thing you must understand is that everybody has his 

own format. It all depends on how smart you can be. 

(Male, Educated, 26 years).  

 

This is however at variance with submission of another IDI respondent who stated that, "the 

most common type of cyber-crime in Owerri is pornography. Even many adults come to this 

cafe to embarrass themselves, watching naked men and women on the internet". It can be 

extrapolated from the data presented above, that ATM fraud and internet pornography are the 

most common types of cyber-crimes preponderant in Owerri Municipal Local Government 

Area.  

 

 



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Socio-Economic Determinants of Cyber Crime: Implication/or Sustainable Development 

Economic Determinants of Cybercrimes in Owerri Municipal Local Government. 

Distribution of Respondents on the Major Economic Determinants of cybercrime  

 

 

Response Frequency Percentage  

 

Unemployment  108 43.9% 

Poverty 98 39.8% 

Low Income 25 10.2% 

Electronic Commerce  12 4.9% 

Don’t Know  3 1.2% 

Total  246 100 

Source: Field Survey, 2011.  

 

The table above shows that 43.9% of the respondents identified unemployment as the major 

economic determinant of cyber-crime. Other economic determinants as revealed by the study 

include; Poverty (39.8%), low income (10.2%), and electronic commerce (4.9%), while 1.2% 

of the respondents said that they did not know the major economic determinant of cyber-

crime. Data from the IDI corroborated the submission on the table that unemployment 

(43.9%) is the major economic determinant of cyber-crime with the following assertion:  

 

The major reason why people commit cyber-crime is 

because of no job. If there were jobs, at least they will not 

engage in the act. But there are also people who are into 

the act for the fun of it. (Male, Programmer, 30 years).  

 

Another respondent stated that.  

Unemployment is already a problem in Nigeria as a whole, so 

one can actually say that it is a major cause of even cyber-

crime. (Male, Educated, 28 years).  

 

The data above shows, therefore, that unemployment is the major economic determinant of 

cyber -crime in Owerri Municipal Local Government Area.  

 

 

  



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Challenges of Sustainable Development: A Social Science Approach 

 

 

Social Determinants of Cybercrimes in Owerri Municipal Local Government Area  

 

TABLE 3: Distribution of Respondents on the Major Social Determinants of Cyber 

Crime .  

 

Response Frequency Percentage  

 

Crave for quick 

money 

125 50.8% 

Bad company 41 16.7% 

Poor value system 30 12.2% 

Parental negligence  25 10.2% 

Peer pressure  20 8.1% 

Corruption  5 2.0% 

Total 246 100 

Source: Field Survey, 2011.  

 

The table above shows that 43.9% of the respondents identified "crave for quick money" as 

the major social determinant of cyber-crime in Owerri Municipal Local Government Area. 

Other social determinants identified by the respondents include; bad company (16.7%), poor 

value system (12.2%), peer pressure (8.1%), and corruption (2.0%). An  IDI respondent 

posited thus:  

 

Everybody wants to make money, buy good cars. Build 

exotic houses and all that. Crave for quick money is the 

reason for all these Cyber-crime and other crimes too. 

(Female, Educated, 25 years).  

 

The foregoing shows that the "crave for quick money" is the major social determinant of 

cyber- crime in Owerri Municipal Local Government Area of Imo State.  

 

Test of Hypotheses  

Hypothesis one: "There is a significant relationship between occupation and perception of 

the people's involvement in cybercrimes". Data on table 4 formed the basis for testing 

hypothesis one.  

 

  



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Socio-Economic Determinants of Cyber Crime: Implication/or Sustainable Development 

Table 4: Distribution of respondents on whether occupation influences people’s 

perception of cyber crimes  

Occupation Low income Unemployment Poverty  Total 

Unemployment  4 2 6 31 

Business/Trading  9 20 15 4 

Artisan  1 3 0 4 

Teaching  4 12 5 21 

Civil/Public 

servant 

8 17 10 4 

Student 14 64 25 103 

Self employed  1 1 0 4 

Socio-economic status 

 

Total 41 138 6 240 

Field survey, 2011  

 

The computed value of chi-square is 9.757, while the table value of chi-square at 0.05 level 

of significance with a degree of freedom (DF) of 12 is 21.026. Since the calculated chi-square 

value is less than the critical value the researcher rejected the alternative hypothesis. It 

follows therefore that there is no significant relationship between occupation and perception 

of people's involvement in cyber crime in Owerri municipal local government area.  

 

Hypothesis Two: "There is a significant relationship between level of educational attainment 

and being victim of cybercrime". Data on table 5 formed the basis for testing hypothesis two.  

 

Table 5: Distribution of respondents on the relationship between educational attainment 

and being victim of cyber-crime.  
Level of 
educational 

attainment  

Hacking Cracking ATM 
Fraud 

Fake 
Identity 

Virus 
Attacks 

Pornography  None Total 

No Formal 

Education 

0 0 4 1 0 2 1 8 

FSLC 1 0 2 0 1 1 0 5 

WASC/GCE/ 

SSCE 

6 0 11 25 2 20 17 81 

OND/NCE 4 6 11 7 4 3 10 45 

B.Sc./HND 12 5 32 8 3 7 6 73 

M.Sc./Ph.D. 2 4 3 4 1 2 1 17 

Total 25 15 63 45 11 35 35 229 

Field survey, 2011 

 

  



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Challenges of Sustainable Development: A Social Science Approach 

 

 

The computed value of chi-square is 68.012 while the table value of chi-square at 0.05 level 

of significance with a degree freedom (OF) of30 is 43.773. Since the computer chi. square 

value is greater than the table value, the researcher accepted the alternatives hypothesis. It 

implies that there is a significant relationship between level of educational attainment and 

being victim of cyber crime in Owerri municipal Local Government area.  

 

Discussion of Findings  

It was discovered in this study that A ™ fraud was preponderant in Owerri Municipal Local 

Government Area. This was followed by pornography, hacking and fake identity. Earlier 

studies by IT news Africa (2008), Jaishanker (2009), EFCC report (2007) and Ndubeze 

(2009) all corroborated this finding. Pornography ranked third in the types of cyber-crimes 

that respondents have ever fallen victim of. This shows a decline in pornographic activities 

on the internet. Longe and Chiemeke (2008) corroborated this finding when they observed 

that there is a decline in pornographic viewing on the internet.  

 

The study also identified unemployment as the major economic determinant of cyber- crime. 

This negates Chawki (2005), Pant (2008) and Long & Chiemeke (2008) who posited that the 

upsurge in cyber-crime can be attributed to factors such as; rapid increase in the number of 

internet users, high level anonymity and the growing number of computer technology. This 

study further reveals that, the "crave for quick money" is the major social determinant of 

cyber-crime. Other social determinants of cyber-crimes discovered in this study are bad 

company and poor value systems.  

 

The Differential Association Theory clearly explains the social impetus mustered by cyber 

criminals in cybercrime commission. This is revealed in the fact that cybercrime like -other 

crimes is socially learnt, with the intent to amass quick money from targets. However, the 

space transition theory's assertion on the impact of socio-structural causes of crime in the 

physical space (i.e, Unemployment), similarly determines cybercrime commission. This was 

supported by the findings of this study, that unemployment is the major economic 

determinant of cybercrime in Owerri municipal Local Government Area. This is not totally 

different from the case with crime on the physical space, where people suffer from the austere 

effect of socio-structural dysfunction.  

 

Conclusion   

The study has revealed that the cause of crime in the physical space is to a large extent 

similar to the cause of cyber-crime. The rising level of unemployment and crave for quick 

money have been identified as major reasons for high level of cyber-crime. Many educated 

people who are unemployed resort to cyber-crime, channeling their expertise and skills to 

cyber criminality. From the findings of this study, it is very manifest that there is an urgent 

need for the reorientation and resocialization of the people on the imperatives of proper 

conduct on the internet irrespective of the anonymity it offers them; as this has massive 

implication on the Society's march towards the realization of sustainable development in the 

21st century.  
  



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Socio-Economic Determinants of Cyber Crime: Implication/or Sustainable Development 

 

Recommendations  

Therefore, the following recommendations are put forth to help mitigate the scourge of cyber-

crime and to enhance the chances of the society in achieving sustainable development;  

 

1. The Government and relevant stakeholders should capitalize on the opportunities 

lurking around in the cyber space to create employment opportunities for the teeming 

number of unemployed persons in our society.  

2. Current efforts at ensuring cyber security should be enhanced to meet the increasing 

rate of cyber-crime. This can be realized through an advanced training of law 

enforcement agencies on the use of sophisticated ICT apparatuses, for the 

checkmating of cyber-crimes perpetrators.  

3. Relevant stakeholders in the society should pool resources together to organize 

sensitization programs for the youth and general public on the proper use of the 

internet and ICT for societal development.  

4. The study of cyber-crimes should be given serious attention by Nigerian scholars and 

relevant agencies (Governmental and Non-Governmental in order to initiate 

appropriate strategies in combating the menace of cyber-crimes.  

5. Parents and Guardians should work together to inculcate the right values in their 

children, wards and young ones around them; the values of hard work, diligence, 

integrity and honesty. When this is done, it will definitely be made manifest in the 

activities of the cyber space.  

6. Cyber criminals should be prosecuted in the courts and if found guilty, be convicted 

and sentenced to no less than ten (10) years imprisonment.  

7. In the face of increasing rate of social network sites on the internet, it has become 

imperative that a cyber space monitoring agency be established to entrench the 

development policy of the country on the cyber space. This is due to the changing 

scope of social interaction, which is largely driven by the sophistication of ICT in the 

21st century.  

 

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