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The Senate has directed Nigeria’s security agencies to immediately track and arrest bandits and terrorists who openly display cash, weapons, and criminal activities on social media platforms, particularly TikTok. The resolution followed a motion raised during plenary on Thursday over the growing insecurity in parts of Kogi State and other regions, with lawmakers expressing concern that criminal groups are now using social media to showcase their operations without fear of arrest.
The call gained momentum after Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan revealed that suspected bandits recently conducted a social media “giveaway,” allegedly distributing more than ₦100 million to followers within a short period through TikTok. She questioned why security agencies, especially the Nigerian Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, had not traced and apprehended individuals who openly broadcast their activities online. The senator urged authorities to intensify digital surveillance and take immediate enforcement action against those using social media to glorify crime and terror-related activities.
Supporting the motion, lawmakers argued that the public display of illicit wealth and criminal exploits represents a dangerous level of impunity that could encourage more young people to embrace crime. They stressed that the online presence of these groups provides valuable digital footprints that should make identification and arrest easier for intelligence and security agencies. The Senate subsequently adopted a resolution directing relevant agencies to coordinate efforts aimed at tracking, monitoring, and prosecuting suspects found using digital platforms to promote criminal enterprises.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the trend as a direct challenge to government authority and questioned why individuals openly displaying proceeds of crime online had not been apprehended. He called on the Department of State Services, the police, and other intelligence agencies to treat the matter as a national security priority and ensure that those responsible are arrested and prosecuted. Akpabio added that Nigerians deserve to see tangible action against criminals who publicly flaunt their activities, warning that failure to act could undermine public confidence in the country’s security institutions.
