Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, has shed new light on why security agencies find it difficult to trace terrorists who display ransom collections and violent activities on platforms such as TikTok. His remarks came during a radio interview that questioned the apparent contrast between the swift arrest of ordinary Nigerians for online comments and the inability to track armed groups that have carried out years of killings and destruction.
Bwala explained that the challenge begins with the technology these groups rely on. He noted that Nigerian regulators maintain a database of citizens and registered phone numbers, and internet service providers within the country can ordinarily assist security agencies by tracing a user’s IP address. In many cases, however, terrorists bypass these systems.
According to him, the rise of tools not registered in Nigeria complicates monitoring efforts. He pointed specifically to Starlink, describing it as a service that operates outside local regulatory control because its signals come from space. Users connected through such systems cannot be traced through the usual domestic channels.
Read also:
- Omala LGA Kogi imposes curfew, bans vigils amid rising insecurity
- Insecurity: IGP patrols Abuja-Kaduna expressway
- Insecurity: Think Out of the Box, COAS Charges Commanding Officers
He added that some armed groups rely on cellular networks from neighbouring countries, placing their digital footprint outside Nigeria’s jurisdiction. Bwala said similar tracking challenges have been reported in conflict zones such as Ukraine and Russia, where cross-border signals disrupt conventional surveillance methods.
His comments have revived broader discussions about the need for updated security strategies, improved regional cooperation, and stronger technological capacity to contain criminal networks that exploit digital loopholes.
