FG Partners Social Media Giants, Orders Takedown of Terrorist Accounts

• The Federal Government says it is working closely with major social media platforms to identify and shut down accounts used by terrorists and criminal groups to spread propaganda, raise funds and coordinate activities.

The Federal Government has revealed that Nigerian security agencies are collaborating with leading social media companies to track, identify and remove accounts operated by terrorist and criminal networks.

Speaking at an end-of-year briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, the Director-General of the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, said platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and X have been exploited by terrorists to publicise their activities, display looted items and communicate with supporters.

According to him, security agencies have held several engagements with the social media firms to address content and accounts that pose threats to national security.

“The issue of social media platforms used by terrorist groups—if you knew how many accounts we have taken down,” Laka said. “We have had several meetings with platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook and X.

“They are businesses seeking to grow their subscribers, but we engage them, explain the impact of certain posts on national security, and those accounts are taken down.”

He noted that there was a period when bandits openly displayed stolen items and even conducted live streams on TikTok, but such activities have since been curtailed following coordinated takedowns.

“At some point, they were doing live streams and holding conversations, but we have been able to handle all that,” he added.

Laka explained that terrorist groups continue to evolve their tactics by using aliases and unverified accounts, stressing that security agencies are constantly adapting to counter these developments.

He also identified ransom payments as a major source of terror financing, revealing that point-of-sale (POS) operators are increasingly being used to move funds.

“In many cases, when you trace a ransom payment, it leads to a POS operator’s account. The kidnappers provide the POS number, the money is transferred, and they go to collect it,” he said.

The counter-terrorism chief said efforts have been intensified to track ransom payments, arrest those involved and dismantle financing networks, although operational details could not be disclosed for security reasons.

He disclosed that several arrests, prosecutions, asset recoveries and seizures have been carried out as part of Nigeria’s commitment to international anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing standards.

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Laka added that Nigeria’s recent progress in meeting the requirements of the Financial Action Task Force was driven by coordinated investigations involving security agencies, financial intelligence units and the judiciary.

While acknowledging the impact of evolving terror tactics and porous borders in the Sahel region, he assured Nigerians that security agencies would continue to strengthen both physical and digital counter-terrorism efforts.

“After the coups in some Sahel countries, the security situation worsened because terrorist groups have cross-border connections,” he said. “Nigeria must play a leadership role in West Africa and the Sahel. We are doing our best, and we will not relent. In 2026, we are going to up our game.”