Bashir Ahmad, a former presidential aide to then President Muhammadu Buhari, has called on the Nigerian government to impose strict regulations on TikTok due to the growing presence of terrorist videos on the platform.

In an X post on Wednesday night, Bashir said the social media platform has become a breeding ground for terrorist propaganda, recruitment, and radicalisation for allowing criminals to continue to post videos of the ransoms they collected from their victims. 

He wrote: “It is alarming that TikTok, a global social media platform, is being utilized by criminals such as bandits, kidnappers, and terrorists in Nigeria to interact with the public and, in some cases, even engage in live conversations defending their heinous activities.

“The platform is causing more harm than good to our country, as it not only amplifies the voices of these criminals but also emboldens them by providing a space to spread their propaganda and misinformation.” 

“Nigeria needs stricter regulations and content monitoring on TikTok to prevent those dangerous individuals from using it for their malicious agendas,” he added. 

Confidencenewsng had also reported how an infamous bandit, known for flaunting ransom payments on social media, went 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 incident highlights TikTok’s growing popularity among young Nigerians, particularly in the north, and its 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. 

Some weeks ago, a terrorist also made a strange request in a viral TikTok video, asking Nigerians to share their bank account details to show appreciation for those who praised their leader, Mohammed Bello Turji Kachalla, during recent nationwide protests against economic hardship. 

The terrorist claimed that their group was grateful and pleased that their leader was referred to ppas a ‘hero’ by some individuals from the northern region. 

He said, “May the peace and blessings be with you all Nigerians. Protesters, we heard you guys are praising Mohammed Bello Turji. 

“We are grateful, we are grateful to you, may you achieve success. Bello Turji is greeting. Send your account details; Bello Turji wants to do something for you people.”