Authors
Ndukwe, Kalu
Department of PoliticalAbia State University, Uturu
Nwanoruo, Mercy
Department of PoliticalAbia State University, Uturu
Okorocha C. Matthew
Department of PoliticalAbia State University, Uturu
Ikechi Victor C.
Department of PoliticalAbia State University, Uturu
Abstract
Cybersecurity has evolved from a technical concern into
a fundamental societal challenge affecting economic
stability, national security, and individual well-being. In
Nigeria, the rapid digital transformation has been
accompanied by an alarming escalation of cyber threats,
including phishing, ransomware, cryptocurrency fraud,
Al-powered attacks, and the emergence of organized
cybercriminal subcultures known as “Hustle Kingdoms.” This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of
cybersecurity risks and their profound social effects,
drawing on empirical research, legal frameworks, and
policy documents from 2024 to 2026. The paper
examines the nature and evolution of cyber threats, the
structural drivers of cybercrime including youth
unemployment and systemic exclusion, and the
multifaceted social consequences encompassing
financial losses, erosion of public trust, psychological
trauma, and moral decay among youth. The paper further
analyzes the limitations of current legal and institutional
responses, particularly the tension between security
imperatives and digital rights, before proposing a
comprehensive framework for, action centered on youth
empowerment, digital literacy, capacity building, legal
enforcement with rights protections, and multistakeholder collaboration.
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