Internet Fraud, Human Trafficking, and the Youth Question in Warri Metropolis: An Integrated Empirical Analysis
Keywords:
internet fraud, human trafficking, cybercrime, routine activity theory, youth, Warri Metropolis, NigeriaAbstract
This study examines the interrelationship between internet fraud and human trafficking among youths in Warri metropolis, Delta State, Nigeria. Guided by Routine Activity Theory, the research investigates how socioeconomic conditions — particularly unemployment and weak law enforcement — create environments that facilitate both offenses. Using a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from 389 respondents purposively sampled from identified youth clusters in Warri. Variables were operationalized at the ordinal level using Likert-type scales, and Spearman's rank-order correlation was employed to test the hypotheses. Findings reveal statistically significant associations between unemployment and internet fraud participation (rs = 0.442, p < 0.01), weak law enforcement and the prevalence of human trafficking (rs = 0.371, p < 0.01), and digital facilitation and trafficking recruitment (rs = 0.491, p < 0.01). The study demonstrates that both offenses share overlapping structural enablers, with digital platforms increasingly serving as a conduit linking fraud networks to trafficking operations. The conclusion recommends integrated policy responses addressing youth economic inclusion, digital literacy, and strengthened law enforcement. The study contributes an empirically grounded, integrated framework to the literature on cybercrime and trafficking in Nigeria.
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