The Nigerian Presidency has clarified why security agencies struggle to trace armed bandits who openly boast about their crimes on platforms like TikTok, attributing the challenge to the criminals' use of unregistered satellite and foreign cellular networks.
The explanation was offered by Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, during a recent interview with Nigeria Info radio. He was questioned on why authorities can swiftly track citizens for critical social media posts but seem unable to locate bandits flaunting ransom money online.
Bwala outlined a clear technological divide. He stated that within Nigeria, a regulatory framework exists where internet service providers (ISPs) operate under local jurisdiction, allowing security agencies to trace users through their IP addresses. However, this system fails when criminals use services outside this sphere.
“If you are using Starlink, we cannot trace it because Starlink is not registered in Nigeria. It’s in space,” Bwala said, drawing a parallel to similar challenges reported in the Ukraine-Russia conflict.
He further explained that bandits frequently avoid Nigerian networks altogether. “These terrorists most of the time are using cellular services from neighbouring countries and not from Nigeria. So it becomes tricky,” he added.
Bwala's comments highlight a growing security concern. Reports indicate that criminal and terrorist groups are increasingly using social media for propaganda, to flaunt wealth from kidnappings, and potentially for recruitment. This public audacity, contrasted with the difficulty in tracking the perpetrators, has fueled public criticism of the government's security efforts.
The admission points to a broader issue of jurisdictional limits in the digital age, where global satellite internet services can operate beyond the reach of national regulatory and security agencies.
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