Nigeria’s Senate has directed security agencies to intensify surveillance and arrest individuals linked to banditry and terrorism who openly display criminal activities and cash on social media platforms such as TikTok.
The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Senator Sunday Karimi, representing Kogi West, amid rising insecurity in parts of the country. Lawmakers expressed concern that armed groups are increasingly using social media not only to flaunt illicit wealth but also to publicise their activities.
During the debate, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan called for coordinated action by the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre and other security agencies to track and arrest those responsible. She alleged that some groups had carried out large cash “giveaways” online, suggesting proceeds from criminal activity.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the trend as a direct challenge to state authority, urging the Department of State Services and other intelligence agencies to treat the matter as urgent. He said the online displays of violence and money amounted to deliberate provocation and an attempt to undermine public confidence in security institutions.
Lawmakers also called for improved real-time intelligence sharing and stronger monitoring of digital platforms to curb the growing link between online spaces and organised crime.
The Senate further stressed the need for accountability, insisting that arrests and prosecutions should be made public to reassure citizens that such acts will not go unpunished.
