Adamu Laka, director-general of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), says the body is collaborating with social media companies to remove accounts of terrorist and criminal groups.
Laka spoke at an end-of-year briefing in Abuja on Tuesday.
He said platforms like TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and X have been exploited by terrorists to publicise operations, display looted items, and communicate 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.
“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 noted that terrorist tactics are constantly evolving, adding that they use point-of-sale (POS) operators to retrieve ransom.
“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.
Laka said security agencies have intensified efforts to track ransom payments, apprehend those involved, and disrupt terror financing networks.
The NCTC head also said there are challenges being contended with as a result of coups in the Sahel region.
“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.
“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.”
