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Cybercrime and Socio-Economic Development in Lafia Local Government Area, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Benjamin Sheyin Lazarus, Prof. Hassan I. IMAM, Eraye Christopher Michael PhD and, Eke Chijioke. Chinwokwu. PhD

Abstract

Cybercrime has emerged as a major structural challenge to socio economic development, particularly in digitally expanding economies where reliance on electronic transactions continues to grow. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of hacking, internet fraud, and identity theft on socio economic development in Lafia Local Government Area. The study was anchored on Differential Association Theory, which explains cybercrime as a learned behavior transmitted through peer interactions and social networks, especially among youth facing unemployment and economic pressure. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, with data collected from 368 respondents selected through multistage sampling across six wards in Lafia. Primary data were obtained using structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The findings revealed strong consensus that hacking, internet fraud, and identity theft significantly undermine socio economic development by causing financial losses to businesses, discouraging digital transactions, reducing access to credit, weakening savings, eroding consumer and investor confidence, and slowing the growth of the local digital economy. The study concluded that cybercrime constitutes a critical barrier to sustainable socio-economic development in Lafia, driven by weak cyber security infrastructure, limited digital ethics awareness, and socio-economic pressures. It was recommended that government agencies strengthen cyber security frameworks, law enforcement intensify prosecution of cyber offenders, financial institutions enhance fraud detection and identity protection systems, and educational institutions integrate digital ethics and cyber awareness into curricula to promote long-term socio- economic resilience.

Keywords

CybercrimeHackingInternet fraudIdentity theftSocio economic development

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