SENATE ORDERS ARREST OF BANDITS FLAUNTING CASH ON TIKTOK
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HOTJIST NEWS
The Senate on Thursday urged security agencies to quickly increase efforts in watching and stopping bandits and terrorists who share their illegal activities and money on social media, especially TikTok. This is because there are growing worries about how openly criminal groups are acting online.
This decision came after a proposal by Senator Sunday Karimi, who represents Kogi West, about the increasing number of attacks by bandits and terrorists in Kogi West and other areas.
Lawmakers again discussed the growing security problems in many parts of the country.
During the discussion, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, added a request for the Nigerian Police Force’s National Cybercrime Centre and other security groups to work together to track, monitor, and arrest people who use social media to show their criminal actions.
Akpoti-Uduaghan warned that armed groups are no longer hiding in the shadows.
Instead, they are using digital platforms to show off their power, display their illegally earned money, and sometimes even do public giveaways that are probably funded by their crime
She said, “Bandits and terrorists who carry out these activities live on their social media handles. Two days ago, bandits conducted a giveaway, distributing over ₦100m within the space of 30 minutes through their social media handles, especially TikTok.”
The senator questioned why such overt digital footprints had not translated into arrests by relevant security agencies, particularly units mandated to track cyber-enabled crimes.
“I wonder why the Cybercrime Unit and the Police Force generally cannot track these activities and apprehend them since they are on social media. Therefore, I urge the Nigerian Police Force National Cybercrime Centre to track and arrest these individuals,” she stated.
The additional prayer was seconded by Senator Osita Ngwu of Enugu West Senatorial District and received broad support across party lines, reflecting growing legislative concern over the intersection of insecurity and unchecked digital exposure by criminal elements.
Responding to the development, Senate President Senator Godswill Akpabio described the conduct of the suspects as a direct affront to state authority and a troubling display of impunity.
“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 warned that the open circulation of videos showing cash displays and criminal activities on social media platforms amounted to a deliberate attempt to ridicule government institutions and undermine public confidence in the country’s security architecture.
“I do not see why we should not have control over the social media space. That idea of showing themselves, showing the cash collected and displaying it is a way of challenging the government,” he added.
The Senate President urged intelligence and security agencies to treat the matter as an urgent national security priority, calling for improved coordination and real-time response to online intelligence.
“I want the security agencies and heads of security services to see this as a major challenge. Whenever anybody finds such content, bring it to the attention of the Senate, and we shall invite the relevant federal authorities to explain why those people have not been apprehended,” he said.
He also emphasised the need for accountability mechanisms that would ensure the public is informed once arrests are made and prosecutions commenced.
“If they are apprehended, they should also report back so that Nigerians can know that those who openly show their faces while committing crimes are being arrested and prosecuted,” the Senate President stated.
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