Cyber crime as become the most surest way for some youth to survive in the country. It involved the use of computer system, networks and individual for financial gain or disruption.
The yahoo-yahoo business, formally known as cyber fraud, in Nigeria cyber crime law is not a new phenomenon in the country. The dirty business of duping others originated in Nigeria in the 80s, and riot surprisingly, the government was to blame. Nigeria experienced a major economic decline during Shehu Shagari administration.
419 started in Lagos during the early 80s and 90s. As time went by, it advance to an extent and got into the internet which is known as yahoo. In those day, the yahoo messenger was the highest and only men of online communication from the first, second and third batch of yahoo boys from year 2000, 2003, 2006 and 2007.
The reason for this is because, this people see cyber crime as talking back what the white men what they took from us first.
A former Chairman of Nigerian’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Lamorde, once announced that more than 288 persons have been convicted of various internet crime in Nigeria, while 232 are still being prosecuted in different courts (2012).
Some of the men involved in the illegal business often resort to seeking metaphysical powers from herbalists that they believe will enable them to hypnotise or control their victims from they are on their radar. Obinwanbe Okeke, aka Invictus Obi, a trans- Atlantic cyber criminal was jailed in the united state of America for 10 year for cyber related crime.
Before his arrest by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and subsequent prosecution and conviction, Mr Okeke was rising star within the country’s private sector to the extent that he was once graced the front page of the elite magazine, Forbes, as a young millionaire. Only a few people knew Mr Obi, who had practically become a business coach to young folks, was into cyber fraud.
There are similar cases like that of Raman Olorunwa Abbas, a.k a hushpuppi, and Ismail Mustaha a.k.a mompha, both who have being tried in various courts for cyber fraud which has to do with business email compromise and money laundering.
Inadvertently leads to a reduction in the rate of physical crime. It is no news that people can do anything for money, legal or not, but the advent of cyber crime means that unemployed individuals see it as a less risky way of making money illegally, as opposed to armed robbery, kidnapping and rituals.
In conclusion, to help stop cyber crime in the country, creating a job for the youth that suit their lifestyle could help them stay off crime.
A great politician in Nigeria once said “if you want to catch a thief, you must be a thief or employ the service of a theif. If cyber crime is to be reduced to the minimum, jobs with good take home remuneration should be created. Proper sensitisation should be given to every person at various level to ensure that they become smart and guide themselves against the criminals who try to seal their joy via the internet.
– Isaiah Christiana Ugbedaojo
Department of Mass Communication,
Prince Abubakar Audu University Anyigba, Kogi State.
