The Nigerian government, through the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), is actively working with major social media companies to identify and shut down accounts operated by terrorist and criminal organisations. This revelation was made by the agency's director-general, Adamu Laka, during an end-of-year briefing held in Abuja.
Social Media Crackdown on Terrorist Propaganda
Adamu Laka detailed the extensive collaboration between security agencies and platforms like TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and X (formerly Twitter). He explained that these platforms had been exploited by violent groups for various nefarious activities.
"The issue of social media platforms used by terrorist groups… if you knew how many accounts we took down. We have had several meetings with these social media platforms," Laka stated. He acknowledged that while these companies are businesses focused on growing their user base, sustained engagement has helped them understand the severe national security implications of the content hosted on their sites.
He provided a specific example: "There was a time when bandits would go on TikTok showing their loot. We took those accounts down. You don’t see that again. At some point, they were even doing livestreams and holding conversations, but we’ve been able to handle all that." The NCTC boss emphasized that the coordinated takedowns have significantly reduced the public flaunting of attacks and stolen items by these groups.
Evolving Terrorist Financing: The POS Operator Link
Beyond social media, Laka shed light on the changing methods of terrorist financing. He revealed that criminals are increasingly using point-of-sale (POS) operators as conduits for ransom payments from kidnappings.
"You see a transfer made by terrorists, and when you investigate the account, it belongs to a POS operator," Laka explained. The modus operandi involves kidnappers providing the phone number of a POS operator to victims' families. Once the ransom is transferred to that account, the criminals collect the cash.
In response, security agencies have intensified efforts to trace these financial flows, arrest collaborators, and dismantle the networks that provide financial support to terrorism and banditry.
Regional Instability: A Spillover Challenge
Director-General Laka also pointed to regional instability, particularly the series of military coups in the Sahel region, as a major challenge complicating Nigeria's security landscape.
He noted that while Nigeria's security situation was improving towards the end of 2023, it worsened following the political upheavals in neighbouring Sahel countries. "These terrorist groups have connections across the region," he said, highlighting the transnational nature of the threat.
Laka stressed that Nigeria must assume a leadership role in tackling insecurity across West Africa and the Sahel, as instability in neighbouring nations inevitably spills over the borders. "As long as those countries continue to face these challenges, Nigeria will also face them. We are doing our best, and we will not relent. In 2026, we are going to up our game," he concluded, outlining the agency's commitment to a more robust counter-terrorism strategy in the coming year.
