The Nigerian Senate has directed security agencies to immediately track down and arrest suspected bandits and terrorists who have been openly displaying large sums of money and showcasing their activities on social media platforms, particularly TikTok. The directive came amid growing concerns over the increasing audacity of criminal groups who now use digital platforms to flaunt proceeds believed to have been obtained from kidnappings, ransom payments and other criminal operations.
The resolution was reached during plenary on Thursday following a motion sponsored by Senator Sunday Karimi, who represents Kogi West Senatorial District. The motion focused on the rising wave of banditry, terrorist attacks and insecurity affecting Kogi West and several other parts of the country. Lawmakers expressed concern that criminal networks have continued to expand their influence while increasingly using social media as a tool to publicise their activities and project power.
During the debate, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central raised fresh concerns over the activities of armed groups on social media. According to her, some bandits have become so bold that they now host live sessions on TikTok, displaying huge amounts of cash and engaging with followers online. She revealed that only days earlier, suspected bandits reportedly distributed more than ₦100 million through social media giveaways conducted on their TikTok accounts, a development that has sparked outrage and renewed calls for tougher action against criminal elements operating in the digital space. ..READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .
The senator questioned why security agencies, particularly cybercrime units equipped with digital surveillance tools, had not been able to identify and apprehend individuals openly displaying evidence of criminal activities online. She subsequently urged the Nigerian Police Force National Cybercrime Centre and other relevant agencies to intensify efforts to monitor, track and arrest those using social media platforms to promote criminal enterprises. Her proposal received widespread support from fellow lawmakers and was adopted by the Senate.
Supporting the call for immediate action, Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the public display of cash and criminal exploits by suspected bandits as a direct challenge to the authority of the Nigerian state. He argued that such acts amount to a dangerous show of impunity and undermine public confidence in the country’s security institutions. Akpabio stressed that intelligence agencies, including the Department of State Services, possess the capability to trace digital footprints and should act swiftly to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The Senate President further warned that allowing criminals to openly celebrate and advertise their activities online could embolden others and create the impression that law enforcement agencies are powerless to act. He therefore called on all security and intelligence agencies to treat the issue as an urgent national security concern requiring coordinated action and real-time monitoring of online activities linked to criminal networks.
The development comes at a time when reports and viral videos have continued to circulate online showing suspected bandits displaying bundles of cash, expensive items and other symbols of wealth. In some recent cases, security operatives have reportedly arrested individuals who gained notoriety on TikTok for allegedly flaunting money believed to have originated from ransom payments collected from kidnapping victims and their families.
With the Senate now demanding decisive action, attention has shifted to the Nigerian Police, cybercrime investigators, intelligence agencies and other security institutions expected to identify, trace and prosecute those involved. The lawmakers maintained that criminals should not be allowed to exploit social media platforms to glorify violence, celebrate criminal proceeds or intimidate citizens, insisting that those responsible must face the full weight of the law.
