Senate Orders Arrest Of Bandits Flaunting Cash On TikTok

The Senate has called on security agencies to intensify surveillance and enforcement operations against bandits and terrorists who openly display criminal activities and proceeds of crime on social media platforms, particularly TikTok.

The resolution was reached on Thursday following a motion sponsored by Senator Sunday Karimi, who represents Kogi West Senatorial District, on the growing insecurity in Kogi West and other parts of the country. The debate highlighted increasing concerns over the boldness of criminal networks operating both physically and online.

During the deliberations, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central Senatorial District raised an additional motion calling for coordinated action by the Nigerian Police Force National Cybercrime Centre and other relevant security agencies to track, monitor, and arrest individuals using social media to promote or showcase criminal activity.

Akpoti-Uduaghan expressed concern that armed groups were no longer operating in secrecy but were now leveraging digital platforms to gain visibility, influence, and in some cases distribute funds believed to be proceeds of crime.

According to her, some bandits had gone as far as conducting online “giveaways,” distributing large sums of money within minutes through social media platforms such as 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 said.

She questioned why relevant security agencies had not been able to trace and apprehend such individuals despite their visible online activities.

“I wonder why the Cybercrime Unit and the Police Force generally cannot track these activities and apprehend them since they are on social media,” she added, urging urgent action.

The additional prayer was seconded by Senator Osita Ngwu of Enugu West Senatorial District and received wide support from lawmakers across party lines.

Senators agreed that the increasing use of digital platforms by criminal elements represents a new dimension of insecurity that requires stronger cyber intelligence, improved monitoring, and faster response from security agencies.

The Senate urged the Nigerian Police Force National Cybercrime Centre and other security agencies to step up efforts to identify, track, and arrest those using social media to glorify or finance criminal operations across the country.