The Director-General of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Adamu Laka, has disclosed that the agency is working closely with social media companies to identify and remove accounts linked to terrorist and criminal organisations.
Laka made this known during an end-of-year briefing held in Abuja on Tuesday.
He explained that platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and X have been abused by terrorist groups to promote their activities, showcase stolen items and maintain contact with supporters.
“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.
He noted that although these platforms operate as businesses seeking to expand their user base, the NCTC engages them on the security implications of certain content, leading to the removal of harmful accounts.
“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.
“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.”
Laka added that terrorist groups continue to adapt their methods, including the use of 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.
According to him, security agencies have stepped up efforts to trace ransom flows, arrest collaborators and dismantle terror financing structures.
The NCTC boss also pointed to regional instability caused by recent coups in parts of the Sahel as a growing challenge.
“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,” he said.
He stressed that Nigeria must assume a leadership role across West Africa and the Sahel to effectively confront the threat.
“So Nigeria has to play a leadership role in West Africa and the Sahel to address these threats. 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.”