An infamous bandit, notorious for flaunting ransom payments on social media, went live on TikTok from his hideout on Wednesday.
Security analyst and counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama shared a photo of the armed bandit interacting with viewers during the live session on his TikTok account.
This incident underscores TikTok’s growing popularity among young Nigerians, particularly in the north, and its unintended use by terrorists to spread harmful content.
A recent SBM Intelligence report reveals that 7,568 people were abducted across Nigeria from July 2023 to July 2024.
The report highlights the growing complexity of the security crisis, with armed groups and non-state actors exploiting weakened state influence.
Key issues include Boko Haram’s resurgence in the Northeast, armed gangs in the Northcentral and Northwest, secessionist violence in the Southeast, and gang problems in the Southwest.
Kidnappers demanded over N10 billion in ransom but received only N1 billion.
Zamfara, Kaduna, and Katsina recorded the highest numbers of kidnapping incidents and victims, with some regions shifting towards non-monetary ransom demands.
