The Federal Government has announced plans to delete accounts used by terrorists and criminal groups on social media while tracking online networks that fund their activities.
Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, Director-General of the National Counter Terrorism Centre, revealed this on Tuesday during an end-of-year briefing in Abuja. He said platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and X have been exploited by terrorist groups to publicize attacks, display stolen goods, and communicate with supporters.
“Many accounts used by terrorist groups have been taken down. We engage platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, and X, explaining the security risks, and ensure harmful content is removed,” Laka said.
The DG noted that terrorists constantly change tactics, using aliases and unverified accounts, but security agencies continue to adjust their strategies to stay ahead.
Ransom payments remain a key source of terror financing, with kidnappers increasingly relying on point-of-sale (POS) operators to move money, complicating tracking.
“You see a transfer made by terrorists, and when you investigate, it belongs to a POS operator. The kidnappers give out the POS operator’s number, the money is transferred, and they collect it,” Laka explained.
He added that authorities have stepped up efforts to trace ransom payments, arrest suspects, and dismantle financing networks, while withholding operational details for security reasons. Several arrests, prosecutions, and asset recoveries have strengthened Nigeria’s compliance with international anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing standards.
Laka also highlighted the role of coordinated investigations between security agencies, financial intelligence units, and the judiciary in achieving recent progress under the Financial Action Task Force requirements.
Acknowledging challenges from evolving terrorist tactics and porous Sahel borders, he reassured Nigerians that both digital and physical counter-terrorism measures are being reinforced.
“Towards the end of 2023, the security situation was improving. But after coups in some Sahel countries, threats increased due to regional terrorist links. Nigeria must take a leadership role in West Africa and the Sahel. We are doing our best, and in 2026, we will intensify our efforts,” Laka said.
