Due to growing concerns over the open display of criminal activities and proceeds of crime on social media platforms, particularly TikTok, the Senate on Thursday called on security agencies to intensify surveillance and enforcement against bandits and terrorists.
The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Senator Sunday Karimi, who raised concerns over escalating insecurity in Kogi West Senatorial District and other parts of the country, as lawmakers again confronted the widening security challenge.
Building on the motion during Thursday’s plenary, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan called for coordinated action by the Nigerian Police Force National Cybercrime Centre and other relevant security agencies to track and arrest individuals using social media to promote criminal activity.
She expressed concern that armed groups were no longer operating covertly but were increasingly using digital platforms to flaunt wealth, project influence, and in some cases, distribute funds believed to be proceeds of crime.
As deliberations continued, lawmakers questioned why such openly visible online activities had not translated into arrests, despite the mandate of security agencies to monitor and respond to cyber-enabled crimes.
The additional prayer received broad support from Senator Osita Ngwu and other lawmakers, reflecting growing legislative concern over the intersection of insecurity and social media exposure by criminal elements.
Responding to the debate, Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the development as a direct challenge to state authority and a display of rising impunity.
He urged security and intelligence agencies to treat the matter as a priority national security concern, stressing the need for stronger coordination and real-time monitoring of online activities linked to criminal groups.
He further called for accountability from security agencies, insisting that the public should be informed when arrests and prosecutions are made to reinforce confidence in the system.