By SUNTV Global Channel | Abuja
The Federal Government has raised serious concerns over the increasing use of Point of Sale (PoS) operators and social media platforms by terrorists and criminal networks to finance and promote violent activities across Nigeria.
The Director-General of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Major-General Adamu Laka, disclosed this on Tuesday during the Centre’s 2025 end-of-year press briefing at its headquarters in Abuja.
According to Laka, ransom payments from kidnappings remain one of the biggest sources of terrorism financing, with criminals now exploiting PoS operators to move funds discreetly and evade security surveillance.
He explained that kidnappers often provide victims’ families with PoS account details instead of personal bank accounts, making it more difficult for security agencies to trace and intercept the funds.
“In many cases, when we track these transactions, the account does not belong directly to the terrorist. It belongs to a PoS operator. The kidnappers simply give out the PoS number, the money is transferred, and they go there to collect it,” Laka said.
The NCTC boss also revealed that terrorists and criminal groups are increasingly using social media platforms to spread propaganda, recruit members, and raise funds. He noted that Nigerian security agencies are actively collaborating with major social media companies to identify and shut down such accounts.
“These platforms are businesses focused on growing users, but we engage them and clearly explain the national security implications of certain contents. Once identified, such accounts are taken down,” he stated.
Laka added that terrorist tactics continue to evolve, including the use of aliases, fake identities, and unverified accounts, stressing that security agencies are constantly adapting their strategies to stay ahead of emerging threats.
He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening financial intelligence, digital surveillance, and inter-agency cooperation to disrupt terrorist funding networks and protect national security.
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