Nigerian Terrorist Streams Live On TikTok From Hideout, Flaunts Ransom Money

A notorious bandit, recognized for showcasing ransom payments on social media, broadcasted live on TikTok from his hideout on Wednesday.

A security analyst and counter-insurgency expert in the Lake Chad area Zagazola Makama shared a photo of the armed bandit engaging with viewers during the live video session.

The armed man is seen engaging directly with viewers during a live video session on his TikTok account.

The incident highlights TikTok's growing popularity among young Nigerians, particularly in the north, and its unintended use by terrorists to disseminate harmful content.

A report released by the SBM Intelligence shows that no fewer than 7,568 people were abducted across Nigeria between July 2023 and July 2024.

The report noted that the security crisis has become increasingly complex, with armed groups and non-state actors exploiting the state’s weakened influence.

It was noted that some of the issues include Boko Haram’s resurgence in the Northeast, armed gangs in the Northcentral and Northwest, secessionist violence in the Southeast, and gang-related issues in the Southwest.

“Amid these diverse security threats, widespread kidnap for ransom has emerged as a common thread. Between July 2023 and June 2024, our research found that no fewer than 7,568 people were abducted in 1,130 incidents across the country,” the report says.

“In that same period, kidnappers demanded at least the sum of N10,995,090,000 (approximately $6,871,931) as ransom but received N1,048,110,000, a mere 9.5% of the money demanded, indicating that kidnappers have become less targeted in their victimology.

“Of the 1,130 reported kidnapping cases, Zamfara, Kaduna, and Katsina have the highest numbers of incidents and victims.”

In some instances, kidnappers opt for non-monetary ransom like foodstuffs, especially in the Northwest and North Central regions which have exhibited higher numbers of in-kind (non-monetary) ransom demands.