The Federal Government has confirmed that Nigerian security agencies are working closely with major social media platforms to identify and remove accounts used by terrorist and criminal groups for promoting their activities and raising funds.

Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, Director-General of the National Counter Terrorism Centre, revealed this during an end-of-year briefing in Abuja. He said platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and X have been exploited by terrorists to publicize operations, display looted items, and communicate with supporters.

Laka explained that multiple engagements with these platforms have enabled security agencies to remove accounts deemed threats to national security. “Bandits once livestreamed their loot on TikTok and other platforms. We took those accounts down, and you don’t see that again,” he said.

He noted that terrorist groups frequently change tactics, operating under aliases or unverified accounts, and security agencies continue to adapt their strategies accordingly.

On funding, Laka highlighted ransom payments as a key source of terror financing. He explained that Point-of-Sale (POS) operators are increasingly used to move money, complicating tracking efforts. Security agencies, he said, are working to trace such transactions, arrest those involved, and dismantle terror financing networks.

The counter-terrorism chief also noted that these efforts have contributed to Nigeria’s compliance with international anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing standards, particularly the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) requirements.

While acknowledging regional challenges, including porous borders in the Sahel, Laka assured Nigerians of ongoing improvements in both digital and physical counter-terrorism measures. “We are doing our best, and we will not relent. In 2026, we are going to up our game,” he stated.