The Director-General of the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Major General Adamu Garba Laka, has said that it has been difficult to track ransom money paid to terrorists, including kidnappers because they make use of the operators of Point-Of-Sale (POS).
Speaking today, December 23, at an end-of-year briefing in Abuja, General Adamu Laka admitted that ransom payments are the major source of terror financing.
He said that ransom payments are often transferred into accounts belonging to POS operators, who then release the cash to kidnappers, making financial tracking more difficult.
“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.”
The counter-terrorism boss said that security agencies have intensified efforts to trace ransom payments, arrest those involved and dismantle terror financing networks.
He said for security reasons, the specific operational details could not be disclosed, even as he said that several arrests and prosecutions have been made in connection with ransom payments and terrorism financing.
He said that there have been asset recoveries and seizures, contributing to Nigeria’s compliance with international anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing standards.
He said that security agencies are collaborating with major social media companies to track and remove accounts used by terrorist and criminal groups to promote their activities and raise funds.
He said that platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and X have been exploited by terrorist groups to publicise their operations, display looted items and communicate with supporters.
According to General Adamu Laka, security agencies have held multiple engagements with social media companies to address posts and accounts considered threats to national security.
“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.
“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 live streams and holding conversations, but we’ve been able to handle all that.”
He explained that terrorist groups continue to change their methods, including operating under aliases and unverified accounts, stressing that security agencies are constantly adjusting their strategies to counter these developments.
He said that Nigeria’s recent progress in meeting the requirements of the Financial Action Task Force was partly achieved through coordinated investigations by a joint committee involving security agencies, financial intelligence units and the judiciary.
He acknowledged the challenges posed by evolving terrorist tactics and porous borders within the Sahel region, but assured Nigerians that security agencies would continue to strengthen both physical and digital counter-terrorism measures.
“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.
“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.”
