Senate Orders Police, DSS to Track Bandits Flaunting Cash on TikTok

Senate Orders Police, DSS to Track Bandits Flaunting Cash on TikTok

The Senate has directed security and intelligence agencies to intensify efforts to identify, track, and arrest bandits and terrorists who openly display their activities and proceeds of crime on social media platforms, particularly TikTok. The resolution followed the adoption of an additional prayer proposed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) during deliberations on a motion sponsored by Senator Sunday Karimi (Kogi West) on the incessant attacks by bandits and terrorists in Kogi West and other parts of the country. Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan urged the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) and other security agencies to monitor, track, and apprehend criminals who use social media platforms to publicise their activities. “I urge the Nigerian Police Force National Cybercrime Centre to track and arrest these individuals,” she stated.

The lawmaker said bandits and terrorists had become increasingly emboldened, using social media platforms to flaunt their operations and publicly distribute money believed to have been acquired through criminal activities. She alleged that bandits recently conducted a giveaway, distributing over ₦100 million within the space of 30 minutes through their social media handles, especially TikTok. “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,” she told the chamber. The senator questioned why security agencies had failed to leverage the digital footprints left by such individuals to track and apprehend them. “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 (Enugu West) and received broad support across party lines.

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Responding to the development, Senate President 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. Akpabio also emphasised the need for accountability mechanisms to 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,” he said.

In addition to the directive on online criminals, the Senate also urged the Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to strengthen cashless policy enforcement to disrupt ransom-based kidnapping financing. It further advised state governments to stop entering into negotiations or peace accords with armed groups, warning that such arrangements often collapse and embolden criminal activity. The Senate also invited the Commander of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) to brief lawmakers on the growing proliferation of illegal arms across the country. The resolution forms part of renewed legislative efforts to address insecurity in Kogi State and across the country, with lawmakers calling for stronger intelligence gathering, surveillance, and enforcement operations against criminal groups. The development reflects growing concern over the increasing use of digital platforms by criminal networks to project influence, recruit followers, and showcase proceeds of crime. The Senate reaffirmed its commitment to supporting stronger cybersecurity frameworks as part of broader efforts to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges. The Senate has effectively put security agencies on notice to track down criminals operating openly on social media. With the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre and the Department of State Services (DSS) now formally directed to act, attention will turn to whether arrests will be made and prosecutions initiated. The Senate has also made clear that it expects feedback on any arrests, with Senate President Akpabio demanding that security agencies “report back so that Nigerians can know” that criminals are being brought to justice. As bandits and terrorists continue to exploit social media platforms for recruitment, propaganda, and public displays of illicit wealth, the Senate’s directive signals a growing legislative resolve to close the digital loopholes that criminals have been exploiting with impunity. Key takeaways from this development include: the Senate directive to track and arrest bandits flaunting cash and criminal activities on TikTok; the motion was sponsored by Senator Sunday Karimi (Kogi West); the key proponent was Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central); the allegation that bandits distributed over ₦100 million in 30 minutes on TikTok; target agencies include the Police National Cybercrime Centre, DSS, and other security agencies; other resolutions include strengthening cashless policy, stopping state negotiations with bandits, and securing a briefing from the NCCSALW on arms proliferation; and Senate President Akpabio called the conduct “a show of impunity” and “a way of challenging the government.” This is a developing story. More details will be provided as information becomes available from security agencies and the Senate.

Senate Orders Police, DSS to Track Bandits Flaunting Cash on TikTok