The Federal Government has exposed a disturbing new tactic employed by terrorists and kidnappers in Nigeria: using Point of Sale (PoS) operators as conduits to collect ransom payments from victims' families.
Security Chief Details the Illicit Scheme
This revelation was made public by the Director-General of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Major-General Adamu Laka. He spoke during an end-of-the-year press briefing held at the Centre's headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, December 24, 2025.
General Laka explained that criminal groups have adopted this method to evade detection and capture during their operations. Ransom payments remain a major source of financing for terrorist activities across the country, and the exploitation of financial agents adds a complex layer to the problem.
How the PoS Ransom System Works
The senior military officer detailed the process. When a ransom demand is made, the kidnappers provide the family with a bank account number belonging to a registered PoS operator, not their own.
"You see a transfer made by terrorists, and when you investigate the account, it belongs to a PoS operator. The kidnappers give out the PoS operator’s number, the money is transferred, and they go to collect it," Laka stated.
Once the funds are transferred into the operator's account, the criminals then collect the cash directly from them. This intermediary step severely complicates the financial trail for security agencies trying to track the illicit funds back to the perpetrators.
Collaboration with Tech Giants to Disrupt Networks
In response to this evolving threat, General Laka disclosed that Nigerian security agencies are not working in isolation. They are actively collaborating with major social media companies in a concerted effort to dismantle the online presence of these groups.
The strategic plan involves identifying and taking down accounts used by terrorists and criminal networks to promote their activities, recruit members, and raise funds. This digital frontline is becoming increasingly crucial in the overall counter-terrorism strategy.
The disclosure underscores the adaptive nature of security threats in Nigeria and highlights the continuous challenge faced by authorities in cutting off the financial lifeblood of violent non-state actors.
