The Federal Government has revealed that Nigerian security agencies are collaborating with major social media companies to identify and remove accounts used by terrorist and criminal groups to promote their activities and raise funds.
Speaking at an end-of-year briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, Director-General of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), said platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and X have been exploited by terrorists to publicize operations, display looted items, and communicate with supporters.
“The issue of social media being used by terrorist groups is significant. If you knew how many accounts we’ve taken down,” Laka said. “We’ve held several meetings with platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, and X. While they are businesses focused on growth, we engage them, explain the national security risks posed by certain posts, and ensure such accounts are removed.”
He added, “There was a time when bandits would post videos of their loot on TikTok. We took those accounts down—you don’t see that happening anymore. At one point, they were even live-streaming and communicating online, but we’ve been able to handle those threats.”
Maj.-Gen. Laka noted that terrorists continually adapt, using aliases and unverified accounts, and stressed that security agencies are constantly evolving their strategies to counter these tactics.
He also highlighted that ransom payments remain a major source of terror financing, with point-of-sale (POS) operators increasingly exploited to move funds. According to Laka, ransom money is often transferred to POS accounts, which then release cash to kidnappers, complicating tracking and enforcement efforts.
The crackdown on terrorist-linked social media accounts follows repeated calls for platforms to remove content that promotes or supports criminal and terror activities, as these platforms have increasingly been used to spread propaganda, showcase illicit acts, and coordinate criminal networks.
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