Senate Urges Security Agencies to Track Bandits Flaunting Cash on TikTok

The Senate on Thursday urged security agencies to intensify surveillance and enforcement against bandits and terrorists who publicize criminal activities and proceeds on social media, especially TikTok.

The resolution followed a motion by Senator Sunday Karimi, Kogi West, on rising bandit attacks and terrorist incursions in his district and other parts of the country.

During deliberations, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Kogi Central, moved an additional prayer directing the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre and other agencies to track and arrest individuals who use social media to promote criminal operations.

Akpoti-Uduaghan said armed groups now operate openly online to project influence and flaunt wealth. She cited a recent incident where bandits distributed over ₦100 million in 30 minutes through TikTok giveaways.

“Bandits and terrorists who carry out these activities live on their social media handles,” she said. “Two days ago, bandits conducted a giveaway, distributing over ₦100m within 30 minutes through their social media handles, especially TikTok.”

She questioned why security agencies had not acted on the digital evidence. “I wonder why the Cybercrime Unit and the Police Force generally cannot track these activities and apprehend them since they are on social media,” Akpoti-Uduaghan said. “I urge the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre to track and arrest these individuals.”

Senator Osita Ngwu, Enugu West, seconded the prayer, which received broad support across party lines.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the suspects’ conduct as impunity and a challenge to state authority. “The Department of State Services should be able to track their movements and arrest them because this is a show of impunity, as if there is no law at all,” he said.

Akpabio said videos showing cash displays and criminal acts on social media were meant to ridicule government institutions. “I do not see why we should not have control over the social media space. That idea of showing themselves, showing the cash collected and displaying it is a way of challenging the government,” he said.

He urged intelligence and security agencies to treat the issue as a national security priority and improve coordination for real-time response to online intelligence.

“Whenever anybody finds such content, bring it to the attention of the Senate, and we shall invite the relevant federal authorities to explain why those people have not been apprehended,” Akpabio said.

He also called for accountability to keep the public informed after arrests and prosecutions. “If they are apprehended, they should also report back so that Nigerians can know that those who openly show their faces while committing crimes are being arrested and prosecuted,” he said.