The Federal Government has revealed that Nigerian security agencies are intensifying efforts to shut down social media accounts used by terrorists and criminal organisations to coordinate operations and solicit funds.
Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, Director-General of the National Counter Terrorism Centre, said at a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday that platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and X had been exploited by criminals to broadcast their activities and showcase stolen goods.
He noted that authorities have repeatedly engaged these platforms to remove content that threatens national security.
“Criminals were even streaming live their operations at one point,” Laka said. “But through collaboration with these platforms, we have been able to stop such broadcasts and take down their accounts.”
Combating ransom-fuelled crimes
The DG disclosed that ransom payments remain a primary source of income for kidnappers, who often use point-of-sale operators to collect money.
According to Laka, tracing these transactions can be complicated as the funds are routed through third parties. Security agencies, he said, are actively monitoring these channels, apprehending those involved, and recovering misappropriated assets.
“This system makes it harder for us to track their operations, but our teams are committed to disrupting these networks,” he added.
Evolving threats and regional implications
Laka highlighted that terrorists continuously adapt, creating fake accounts and aliases online to evade detection.
Despite these challenges, Nigeria is committed to strengthening both physical and digital counter-terrorism measures.
He also stressed the regional context, pointing out that instability in neighbouring Sahel countries affects the domestic security landscape.
“Nigeria must lead in addressing these challenges in West Africa,” he said. “Even as threats evolve, we will continue to bolster our efforts and ensure the safety of our citizens.”