Adamu Laka, director-general of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), says the agency is working closely with social media companies to remove accounts operated by terrorist and criminal groups.
Laka disclosed this during an end-of-year briefing held in Abuja, where he explained that several platforms have been exploited by violent groups to publicise attacks, flaunt looted items and communicate with supporters.
He said platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and X had all been engaged by the NCTC. “The issue of social media platforms used by terrorist groups… if you knew how many accounts we took down. We have had several meetings with these social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook and X,” he said.
Laka noted that while the companies are businesses seeking to grow their user base, sustained engagement with security agencies has helped them understand the national security implications of such content.
“They are businesses looking to grow their subscribers, but we engage them, explain the effects of certain posts on national security, and we take them down,” he said.
According to him, bandits and terrorist elements previously used platforms such as TikTok to display stolen items and even conduct livestreams.
“There was a time when bandits would go on TikTok showing their loot. We took those accounts down. You don’t see that again. At some point, they were even doing livestreams and holding conversations, but we’ve been able to handle all that,” he added.
Laka also revealed that terrorist financing methods are evolving, with criminals increasingly exploiting point-of-sale (POS) operators to receive ransom payments.
“You see a transfer made by terrorists, and when you investigate the account, it belongs to a POS operator. The kidnappers give out the POS operator’s number, the money is transferred, and they go to collect it,” he said.
He said security agencies have stepped up efforts to trace ransom flows, arrest collaborators and dismantle financing networks that support terrorism.
The NCTC boss further pointed to regional instability as a major challenge, particularly the series of military coups in the Sahel.
“Towards the end of 2023, the security situation in Nigeria was improving. But after the coups in some Sahel countries, the situation worsened because these terrorist groups have connections across the region,” Laka said.
He stressed that Nigeria must play a leadership role in tackling insecurity across West Africa and the Sahel, noting that instability in neighbouring countries inevitably spills over Nigeria’s borders.
“As long as those countries continue to face these challenges, Nigeria will also face them. We are doing our best, and we will not relent. In 2026, we are going to up our game,” he added.
