The National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC-ONSA), Major General Adamu Laka, has raised concerns over the involvement of some Point of Sale (POS) operators in facilitating terrorist and kidnapping activities across Nigeria.
Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, General Laka disclosed that ransom payments were increasingly being routed through POS operators at the behest of kidnappers, enabling criminals to receive and withdraw funds with relative ease.
“Another major challenge we face is the involvement of POS operators.
“In many cases, ransom payments are transferred by victims directly to POS operators whose account details are provided by terrorists.
”The money is then withdrawn by the criminals. We are addressing this and will not relent, ” he said.
The NCTC chief also highlighted the emergence of sophisticated tactics by criminal networks, including the orchestration of fake kidnappings using artificial intelligence.
He revealed that some perpetrators are now employing AI-driven voice-cloning technology to impersonate victims and extort money from wealthy relatives.
General Laka explained that certain operational details are deliberately withheld from the public, even after successful missions, to protect the integrity of future security operations.
On a broader regional scale, he linked the resurgence of terrorism to recent military coups in the Sahel region, noting that security gained recorded toward the end of 2023 have been reversed following takeovers in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
He emphasised the cross-border nature of terrorist operations, stressing the importance of regional collaboration.
“Nigeria must take leadership in West Africa and the Sahel. As long as neighbouring countries remain insecure, Nigeria will remain vulnerable,” he said.
The NCTC coordinator also pointed to Nigeria’s economic strength as a factor making the country a prime target for criminal activities.
“Nigeria is the richest country in West Africa. It is one of the few places where kidnappers can demand N100 million and get it.
That is why they come here to raise funds to sustain operations across the region,” he said.
Despite the daunting challenges, General Laka reassured Nigerians that security agencies remain committed to dismantling terrorist and kidnapping networks.
He urged citizens to cooperate and support ongoing efforts to enhance national security.
“It is a difficult task, but we are doing our best. Nigerians must believe in us,” he added.
