By Daily Review Online
The Senate on Thursday directed security agencies to intensify efforts to track and arrest bandits and terrorists who openly display their activities and proceeds of crime on social media platforms, particularly TikTok.
The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Senator Sunday Karimi (Kogi West) on the escalating wave of bandit attacks and terrorist activities in Kogi West and other parts of the country.
During the debate, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) raised concerns over the increasing use of social media by criminal groups to publicise their operations, flaunt wealth allegedly acquired through criminal activities and project influence.
She alleged that some bandits recently distributed more than N100 million through social media giveaways, questioning why security agencies had not tracked and apprehended those involved despite their visible online presence.
“Bandits and terrorists who carry out these activities operate openly on social media. Just two days ago, some of them reportedly shared over N100 million through giveaways on TikTok within 30 minutes,” she said.
Akpoti-Uduaghan urged the Nigerian Police Force National Cybercrime Centre and other security agencies to deploy digital intelligence tools to identify, monitor and arrest such individuals.
Her proposal, seconded by Senator Osita Ngwu (Enugu West), received overwhelming support from lawmakers across party lines.
Responding to the concerns, Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the actions of the criminal groups as a blatant challenge to state authority and evidence of growing impunity.
“The Department of State Services and other security agencies should be able to track these individuals and arrest them. This level of boldness suggests a belief that there are no consequences for their actions,” Akpabio said.
He warned that the circulation of videos showing armed criminals displaying large sums of cash and publicising their activities was undermining public confidence in the nation’s security institutions.
According to him, such content amounts to a direct challenge to government authority and should be treated as a serious national security threat.
Akpabio called on intelligence and law enforcement agencies to strengthen coordination and respond swiftly to information obtained from social media platforms.
He also urged the agencies to keep the public informed whenever suspects are arrested and prosecuted.
“If these individuals are apprehended, the public should be informed so Nigerians can see that those who openly commit crimes and display them online are being brought to justice,” he stated.
The Senate subsequently resolved to mandate relevant security agencies, including cybercrime units, to track, monitor and arrest individuals using social media platforms to promote criminal activities and display proceeds of crime.