The Senate has ordered security agencies to step up surveillance and go after bandits and terrorists who flaunt their crimes and cash online, especially on TikTok.
The move came Thursday during debate on a motion by Senator Sunday Karimi, Kogi West, on rising attacks in his district and across Nigeria.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Kogi Central, pushed for an extra prayer directing the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre and other agencies to track and arrest those using social media to publicize criminal operations.
She said armed groups have stopped hiding. Instead they post videos, show off stolen wealth, and even run “giveaways”. Two days ago, she claimed bandits shared over ₦100m in 30 minutes through TikTok live streams. Akpoti-Uduaghan questioned why the Cybercrime Unit hasn’t arrested them given how public the posts are.
Senator Osita Ngwu, Enugu West, seconded the prayer. It got broad, cross-party support as lawmakers worried about criminals using social media to mock the state.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio called the videos “a show of impunity” and said the DSS should track and arrest the suspects. He warned that posting cash and crime clips online is a direct challenge to government authority and public trust.
Akpabio urged security chiefs to treat it as an urgent national priority and improve real-time response to online intel. He also said the Senate should be alerted when such content appears, and agencies must report back once arrests and prosecutions happen so Nigerians can see justice is being served.
