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

The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Senator Sunday Karimi (Kogi West), which highlighted the rising wave of bandit attacks and terrorist incursions in parts of Kogi State and other regions of the country, as lawmakers once again deliberated on the worsening national security situation.

During the session, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) proposed an additional legislative prayer urging coordinated action among the Nigerian Police Force National Cybercrime Centre and other relevant security agencies to track, monitor, and arrest individuals using social media to publicise criminal operations.

She expressed concern that armed groups were increasingly operating openly online, using digital platforms to project influence, display illicit wealth, and allegedly organise online “giveaways” funded through criminal activity.

“Bandits and terrorists who carry out these activities live on their social media handles. Two days ago, bandits conducted a giveaway, distributing over ₦100 million within 30 minutes through their social media accounts, especially TikTok,” she said.

Akpoti-Uduaghan questioned why such visible digital activity had not resulted in arrests, given the mandate of cybercrime enforcement agencies.

“I wonder why the Cybercrime Unit and the Police Force generally cannot track these activities and apprehend them since they are on social media. I urge the National Cybercrime Centre to track and arrest these individuals,” she added.

The motion was seconded by Senator Osita Ngwu (Enugu West) and received broad bipartisan support, reflecting growing concern among lawmakers over the intersection of insecurity and unregulated online exposure by criminal networks.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the conduct of the suspects as a direct challenge to state authority and a display of impunity.

“The Department of State Services should be able to track their movements and arrest them because this is a show of impunity, as if there is no law at all,” he said.

Akpabio warned that the circulation of videos showing cash displays and criminal activity online was a deliberate attempt to undermine government institutions and erode public confidence in the country’s security framework.

“I do not see why we should not have control over the social media space. Showing themselves, showing the cash collected and displaying it is a way of challenging the government,” he added.

He urged security and intelligence agencies to treat the issue as an urgent national security priority, calling for stronger coordination and real-time response to digital intelligence.

“I want the security agencies and heads of security services to see this as a major challenge. Whenever anybody finds such content, bring it to the attention of the Senate, and we shall invite the relevant federal authorities to explain why those individuals have not been apprehended,” he said.

The Senate President also emphasized the need for accountability, insisting that the public should be informed once arrests are made and prosecutions begin.

“If they are apprehended, they should also report back so Nigerians can know that those who openly show their faces while committing crimes are being arrested and prosecuted,” he stated.