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By Nana Theresa Timothy
Nigerian authorities are actively pursuing a notorious bandit who has been engaging with viewers on TikTok through live video sessions from his hideout. Security experts in Abuja are currently in discussions with TikTok officials. Authorities want to track down the bandit, who has repeatedly gone live on the platform, flaunting ransom payments.
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This past Wednesday, the bandit hosted another live session on his TikTok account. He was directly interacting with viewers and boasting of his exploits.
TikTok has rapidly become one of Nigeria’s most popular social media platforms. It has around 23.84 million users aged 18 and above as of early 2024, according to figures from ByteDance.
The platform is also gaining significant traction in northern Nigeria, where terrorists have found it an effective tool for disseminating harmful content and spreading terror.
Kidnapping pays
According to SBM Intelligence, between July 2023 and July 2024, Nigeria saw 582 kidnapping incidents involving 3,620 victims. Ransom payments amounted to approximately 5 billion naira ($3,878,390) fueling belief that kidnapping pays.
In 2024 alone, there have been 68 mass abductions, highlighting the escalating threat. A report by ACLED and the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, titled ‘Non-state armed groups and illicit economies in West Africa’ also underscores the rise in mass abductions in Nigeria. Kidnapping has become a significant revenue source for violent extremist organisations in the North East and bandit groups in the North West.
Nigeria sets September 14, 2024, as deadline for linkage of SIMs and NINs
In response to the growing threat, the Nigerian government has set September 14, 2024, as the deadline for the mandatory verification and linkage of Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs) and National Identity Numbers (NINs).
This week, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) announced that over 153 million SIMs have been successfully linked to NINs. This development reflects an impressive compliance rate of 96%.
Digital devices not linked to a verifiable identity on the National Identity Database (NIDB) will be deactivated by September 14. Government said it is intensifying efforts to combat rampant kidnappings and banditry.
