The Senate on Thursday called on security agencies to immediately strengthen surveillance and enforcement operations against bandits, terrorists and other criminal elements who openly display their activities and proceeds of crime on social media platforms, particularly TikTok.
The upper legislative chamber expressed deep concern over what lawmakers described as the growing audacity of criminal networks that now use digital platforms to publicise their operations, recruit followers, intimidate communities and showcase wealth allegedly acquired through kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes.
The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Senator Sunday Karimi, who represents Kogi West Senatorial District, on the escalating wave of insecurity in Kogi West and several other parts of Nigeria. During the debate, senators painted a troubling picture of the country’s security situation, warning that bandits and terrorists were increasingly exploiting technology and social media to expand their influence while security agencies struggled to contain the threats.
Lawmakers noted that attacks on rural communities, highways and settlements had continued despite ongoing military and police operations, leaving many citizens fearful and vulnerable. The Senate’s concern was heightened by reports that some criminal groups had become so emboldened that they now openly maintain social media accounts where they broadcast their activities, display weapons, flaunt cash and interact with followers.
Adding to the motion, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central introduced an additional prayer urging the Nigerian Police Force National Cybercrime Centre and other relevant security agencies to launch coordinated operations aimed at identifying, tracking and arresting individuals who use social media platforms to promote criminal activities.
According to Akpoti-Uduaghan, the situation has reached a dangerous level where criminal elements are no longer hiding their identities or operations but are instead using digital platforms to gain visibility and project influence.
She expressed shock over recent reports suggesting that suspected bandits were openly conducting financial giveaways online, distributing large sums of money through social media channels while law enforcement agencies appeared unable to stop them. “Bandits and terrorists who carry out these activities live on their social media handles.
Two days ago, bandits conducted a giveaway, distributing over ₦100 million within the space of 30 minutes through their social media handles, especially TikTok,” she said. Her remarks generated widespread concern among lawmakers, many of whom argued that the development reflects a disturbing evolution in the tactics employed by criminal groups.
Several senators observed that social media, while providing opportunities for communication and economic growth, has also become a tool for criminal propaganda, enabling armed groups to glorify violence, attract sympathisers and create an illusion of power and invincibility.
The lawmakers stressed that allowing such activities to continue unchecked could embolden more criminal actors and undermine public confidence in the government’s ability to maintain law and order.
Senator Karimi, while presenting the motion, highlighted the worsening security situation in Kogi West and neighbouring regions, warning that communities continue to face frequent attacks from armed groups. He noted that residents in several affected areas have been forced to live in fear due to repeated incidents of kidnapping, killings and violent invasions by suspected bandits and terrorists.
According to him, the deteriorating security environment has disrupted economic activities, forced many farmers away from their farmlands and increased humanitarian concerns in affected communities.
The senator urged the Federal Government and security agencies to adopt more proactive strategies to confront emerging threats, including the growing use of digital platforms by criminal organisations.
Following extensive deliberations, the Senate resolved to call on the military, police, intelligence agencies and cybersecurity authorities to intensify efforts aimed at dismantling criminal networks both offline and online. Lawmakers emphasised that the fight against insecurity must evolve to match the changing tactics of criminal groups, especially as technology increasingly becomes a central component of their operations.
The Senate further urged relevant authorities to enhance intelligence gathering, strengthen cyber surveillance capabilities and collaborate with social media companies to identify and remove accounts linked to criminal activities. Security experts have long warned that terrorist and bandit groups across various regions of the world increasingly rely on social media for communication, propaganda, fundraising and recruitment.
The Nigerian Senate’s latest intervention reflects growing concern that similar patterns are becoming more visible within the country. The development comes amid renewed national conversations about insecurity, with communities across several states continuing to grapple with attacks by armed groups despite ongoing security operations.
For many lawmakers, the emergence of social media as a platform for criminal publicity represents a new frontier in Nigeria’s security challenges, requiring a combination of conventional military responses and sophisticated cyber intelligence measures.
As the Senate presses for urgent action, attention is now focused on how security agencies will respond to the lawmakers’ call for intensified surveillance and enforcement against criminals who have increasingly taken their activities into the digital space.
The upper chamber maintained that decisive action is necessary not only to disrupt criminal operations but also to prevent social media from becoming a safe haven for individuals seeking to profit from violence, terror and organised crime.
