Youth And Danger Of Cyber Crime 

Quote:”. Many young people in Nigeria fall into cybercrime (“Yahoo Yahoo”) not because they want to, but because of unemployment, lack of opportunities, and bad leadership. Unfortunately, they pay for it with their health”.

(This is the concluding part of this story featured in our last edition) 

Poor sleep increases free radicals and lowers antioxidant defenses.This oxidative stress damages liver cells, leading to inflammation and fibrosis (scarring). Over time, this may progress to liver injury or chronic liver disease. This is because during deep sleep, the liver works more efficiently to filter toxins from the blood. On the other hand, chronic sleeplessness reduces this process, causing toxins and metabolic waste to accumulate, burdening the liver further. Lack of sleep alters glucose metabolism, causing insulin resistance. The liver responds by producing and storing excess fat, leading to fatty liver. Studies show that people with sleep disorders (like sleep apnea) have a higher risk of liver fibrosis.

While it is the function of the kidney to filter blood, remove waste, regulate fluid, electrolyte balance, and control blood pressure. Sleep deprivation interferes with these functions causing a reduction in kidney filtration rate.  Research shows that people who sleep less have a reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR), which is a key measure of kidney function. Over time, this can progress to chronic kidney disease (CKD). It is when while we sleep that  blood pressure naturally dips (”nocturnal dipping”). Without enough sleep, this dipping doesn’t occur, causing persistent high blood pressure (hypertension), which is one of the leading causes of kidney damage. Poor sleep disrupts hormones like renin, angiotensin, and aldosterone, which regulate kidney function and blood pressure.

Imbalance of these hormones stresses the kidneys and can cause fluid retention, swelling, and kidney strain. Just like in the liver, sleeplessness increases inflammatory markers (CRP, IL-6, TNF-?),Causing damages in kidney tissues and blood vessels, and accelerating kidney disease. Thus, since the liver and kidneys work together to detoxify the body and maintain metabolic balance, sleeplessness causes a vicious cycle. If the  liver fails to detoxify properly, that means more toxins in the blood  and extra burden on the kidneys. Furthermore, high blood pressure and metabolic dysfunction strain the kidneys which make them struggle to regulate electrolytes, worsening liver stress. Research on sleep suggests that “a teenager needs between eight and ten hours of sleep every night”. This is more than the amount a child or an adult needs.

Their hormonal time normally shifts – “puberty hormones shift the teenager’s body clock forward by about one or two hours, making them sleepier one to two hours later” – NLM. Many young people in Nigeria fall into cybercrime (“Yahoo Yahoo”) not because they want to, but because of unemployment, lack of opportunities, and bad leadership. Unfortunately, they pay for it with their health—staying awake all night chasing victims in different time zones, leading to long-term health damage. There is thus every necessity for the society to be seriously involved in Job creation & entrepreneurship support. The need for  real employment opportunities and incentives for youths to start businesses (grants, low-interest loans, and tr investing in youth empowerment programs. Instead of just condemning “Yahoo boys,” they should channel their energy into policies that help youths. Leaders should fund innovation labs, scholarships, and tech competitions that can convert “cyber skill” into positive productivity. In fact, the solution is not just arresting them but redirecting their intelligence and energy from crime into legitimate opportunities. If given the right environment, many of the youth could become top programmers, cybersecurity experts, entrepreneurs, or digital marketers instead of wasting their health and future.

The youths therefore, need to be sensitized on the dangers of cybercrime—not only the legal risks but also the health and mental consequences. Take them through mentorship programs by pairing successful professionals with young people so they see real-life role models outside crime. Platforms like upwork, toptal, or even local remote jobs can help Nigerian youths earn legitimately using the same laptops and internet they currently use for fraud. The same youths can collaborate to build apps, websites, and businesses that solve Nigerian problems (fintech, logistics, e-learning, etc.). Yes, the youth can live a healthy lifestyle by prioritizing sleep, exercise and balance even while hustling legitimately—to protect health long-term. No body should celebrate them anymore. This madness must stop !

By: Justice Whyte