Gender Bias and Cybercrime Investigation: A Comparative Study of Female Involvement in Cybercrime among Undergraduate Students in Selected Universities in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Background to the Study: The study investigates the gender bias on female involvement in cybercrime among undergraduate students in selected universities in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Objectives: The study aims to determine the prevalence of female involvement in cybercrime, and to investigate the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies in controlling cybercrime. Methods: The study adopted a descriptive research design in which quantitative method was employed. The study was carried out in Ekiti State, and it include universities such as Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Federal University of Oye-Ekiti, and Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti. The study comprises of four hundred and eighty (480) undergraduate students from the three purposive selected universities in the State. Questionnaires were used to gather information and analysis was done with SPSS version 21. Results were presented in frequency, percentage and cross-tabulation. Results: Findings from the study showed that 50.2% are aware of female who involved in cybercrime, but 62.5% of them claimed not to have seen or known any female who engaged in cybercrime, 63.3% attested that female involving in cybercrime are not prevalent. 68.5% affirmed that law enforcement agencies controlled female cybercrime, but 52% confirmed that law enforcement agencies are aware of female involving in cybercrime. Also, the study shows the gender bias in controlling females involving in cybercrime and which include; lack of technical training (73.3%), inadequate legislation (71.4%), and anonymity (73.8%). Conclusion: Based on the findings, the study concluded that there is gender bias in investigating female involvement in cybercrime and other crimes. Recommendations: The study therefore recommends that law enforcement agencies should avoid the bias or assumption that male alone are involved in cybercrime while conducting investigation.