The Senate has issued a strong directive to the nation’s security agencies to immediately track, monitor, and arrest bandits and terrorists who are openly flaunting ransom money and criminal activities on social media platforms, particularly TikTok.
The resolution was passed during Thursday’s plenary session following a motion on the rising wave of bandit attacks in Kogi West and other parts of the country, sponsored by Senator Sunday Karimi (Kogi West).
During the deliberations, lawmakers expressed deep concern over the brazenness of criminal networks moving their operations into the digital space to project influence and mock state authority.
Key Highlights of the Senate’s Resolution:
Coordinated Cyber Tracking: The Senate adopted an additional prayer introduced by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) and seconded by Senator Osita Ngwu (Enugu West), calling on the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) and the Department of State Services (DSS) to urgently collaborate and track down these digital footprints.
A Front to National Security: Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, condemned the online displays as a direct challenge to the government, warning that allowing criminals to display ill-gotten wealth unchecked ridicules public institutions and undermines public confidence in the country’s security architecture.
Demand for Public Accountability: The Senate Leader mandated that security agencies not only apprehend these individuals but also report back to the public to demonstrate that those who break the law openly face prosecution.
Underscoring the urgency of the situation, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan revealed that these armed groups are no longer hiding, but are instead operating active social media handles to host public “giveaways.”
Two days ago, bandits conducted a giveaway, distributing over ₦100m within the space of 30 minutes through their social media handles, especially TikTok.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
She questioned why units mandated to track cyber-enabled crimes had not yet converted these highly visible online activities into physical arrests.
Responding to the development, Senate President, Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio tasked the nation’s intelligence heads to treat this digital impunity as a major national security priority.
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. The Senate will begin inviting relevant federal authorities to explain any failures to apprehend criminals who expose their own faces and locations online.
Senator Godswill Akpabio.
The Senate has urged members of the public and lawmakers to bring such treasonous social media content directly to the upper chamber’s attention for immediate legislative escalations to the executive arm.
