The Federal Government has directed security agencies to work with major social media companies to identify and remove accounts linked to terrorist and criminal groups operating in Nigeria.
The Director-General of the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Major General Adamu Laka, disclosed this during an end-of-year briefing held in Abuja. He said extremist groups have increasingly relied on platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and X to publicise their activities, display stolen items, communicate with supporters, and raise funds.
According to him, Nigerian security agencies have engaged repeatedly with social media firms to address content and accounts that pose threats to national security. He explained that while the platforms are commercial entities seeking to grow their user base, sustained dialogue has helped ensure the removal of harmful content.
Laka noted that in the past, armed groups openly shared videos of looted items and even conducted live broadcasts on social media. He said such activities have significantly reduced following coordinated takedown efforts by security agencies and platform operators.
He added that terrorist groups continue to adapt by using aliases and unverified accounts, forcing security agencies to constantly adjust their monitoring and response strategies.
The counter-terrorism chief also identified ransom payments as a major source of funding for criminal networks, revealing that point-of-sale operators are often used to facilitate these transactions. He explained that kidnappers frequently provide victims’ families with POS account details, making financial tracking more complex.
Despite these challenges, Laka said security agencies have intensified efforts to trace ransom flows, arrest those involved, and disrupt terror financing structures. He noted that while many arrests and prosecutions have already taken place, operational details could not be disclosed for security reasons.
He further stated that asset seizures and financial investigations form part of Nigeria’s compliance with international anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing standards. According to him, progress recorded in meeting the requirements of the Financial Action Task Force was achieved through coordinated work involving security agencies, financial intelligence bodies, and the judiciary.
Laka acknowledged that instability in parts of the Sahel region has worsened Nigeria’s security situation due to cross-border links among terrorist groups. He said Nigeria continues to play a leadership role in regional security efforts and assured that counter-terrorism operations—both physical and digital—would be strengthened further in the coming year.
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