….Lawmakers demand urgent surveillance of social media, call for arrests of criminals openly displaying proceeds of crime online
By Rejoice Peterside
The Senate on Thursday called on security agencies to intensify surveillance and enforcement actions against bandits and terrorists who openly showcase their criminal activities and display cash proceeds on social media platforms, particularly TikTok.
The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Senator Sunday Karimi, representing Kogi West Senatorial District, which drew attention to rising insecurity and increasing boldness of armed groups operating across parts of the country, especially in the North Central region.
Lawmakers expressed concern that criminal elements were no longer operating in secrecy but were now using social media platforms to publicise their activities, flaunt ill-gotten wealth, and in some cases carry out online “giveaways” funded by criminal proceeds.
During deliberations, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) moved an additional prayer urging security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, to step up monitoring of online activities linked to criminal networks and ensure swift arrests.
She raised alarm over reports that armed groups were using digital platforms to circulate videos of cash distribution and other activities intended to project influence and intimidate communities.
According to her, such online behaviour reflects a dangerous shift in criminal operations, where offenders are increasingly leveraging technology not only to evade detection but also to normalise illegal activity in public view.
Senator Osita Ngwu (Enugu West) seconded the additional prayer, which received wide support from lawmakers across party lines.
Responding to the motion, Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the activities of the suspects as a direct affront to state authority and a challenge to Nigeria’s security architecture.
He said the open display of criminal proceeds on social media amounted to an attempt to ridicule government institutions and undermine public confidence in law enforcement agencies.
“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,” Akpabio said.
He also questioned why security agencies had not been more effective in tracking digital footprints left by criminals who publicly display cash and weapons online.
According to him, the situation requires urgent coordination among intelligence agencies, especially in monitoring cyber-enabled crimes.
Akpabio urged security agencies to treat the matter as a national security priority and improve real-time intelligence gathering and response systems to curb the growing trend.
He further stressed the need for accountability, stating that Nigerians should be informed when arrests are made and prosecutions commence, in order to restore public confidence in the justice system.
Lawmakers supporting the motion described the development as a worsening dimension of insecurity, warning that the use of social media by criminal groups poses a serious threat to national stability and could embolden others if not addressed swiftly.
The Senate resolution comes amid heightened concerns over banditry, kidnapping, and terrorist activities in several parts of the country, with increasing calls for stronger technological surveillance and improved coordination among security agencies.
The upper chamber directed relevant security institutions to track, identify, and arrest individuals involved in such online displays of criminal activity, while also strengthening cybercrime monitoring mechanisms nationwide.
