Balogun Idowu
Criminals’ use of foreign internet services has made it difficult for Nigerian security agencies to track bandits, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has said.
Bwala made the remarks during an interview on Nigeria Info FM, posted on the station’s Instagram page on Friday.
According to him, while security agencies can easily trace Nigerians using locally regulated telecommunications and internet services, criminals who rely on foreign services are harder to monitor.
“There is a regulatory body in Nigeria that has the database of Nigerians and their phone numbers. There is also a body that deals with internet service provision, where if you are using an internet service covered within the sphere of Nigeria, they can trace through the IP address,” he said.
He added, “If you are using Starlink, we cannot trace it because Starlink is not registered in Nigeria; it is in space. That is the problem they have in Ukraine and Russia. These terrorists most of the time are using cellular services from neighbouring countries and not from Nigeria, so it becomes tricky.”
Bwala said the situation highlights the growing technological challenges confronting security agencies in the fight against banditry and terrorism.
Nigeria has in recent years witnessed a surge in insecurity, with banditry, terrorism and kidnappings affecting many communities, particularly in the North-West and North-East. In the past few months, several villages have been attacked, schoolchildren abducted and highways raided, disrupting economic activities and spreading fear.
Recent reports indicate that criminal groups increasingly rely on digital communication tools and social media to coordinate their activities.
In May 2025, The Guardian reported that jihadists in the North-East were using TikTok to spread propaganda, flaunt weapons and cash, and possibly recruit youths. In recent months, suspected bandits and terrorists have also been seen posting videos of their hideouts, weapons and ransom proceeds on the platform.
The videos sometimes feature threats, displays of ransom payments and calls for support, further amplifying fear and insecurity.