Terrorist groups are increasingly exploiting social media, cryptocurrencies and artificial intelligence to recruit fighters, finance operations and coordinate attacks across West Africa and the Sahel, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the African Union Counter-Terrorism Centre have warned.
They raised the alarm on Tuesday, October in Abuja at a three-day regional conference focused on detecting and disrupting terrorists’ use of information and communication technologies and emerging technologies.
Acting Director of the AU Counter-Terrorism Centre, Idriss Lalalli, identified the Islamic State West Africa Province, Boko Haram and Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin as groups expanding their activities through digital platforms.
He said, “Across West Africa and the Sahel today, ISWAP, Boko Haram and JNIM are extending their reach through technology. They recruit on social media platforms, move and conceal funds via mobile money, gift cards and cryptocurrencies.
“They buy weapons on darknet marketplaces, communicate over satellite links beyond our networks, and fly drones across borders, using artificial intelligence to tailor propaganda and evade detection.”
Lalalli warned that the affordability and speed of these technologies allowed terrorist cells to reach wider audiences and operate faster than security agencies could respond.
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He said the conference would equip participants with skills in cyber threat intelligence, digital forensics, open-source intelligence and blockchain analysis to track recruitment networks, preserve evidence and trace cryptocurrency transactions.
Representing Ribadu, the National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Maj-Gen. Adamu Laka, said artificial intelligence, drones and virtual assets had introduced additional challenges for Nigeria and neighbouring countries.
“Emerging technologies add further complexity: Artificial Intelligence can rapidly produce personalised content; drones and autonomous systems can expand operational capabilities; and virtual assets can create new financing channels. We must therefore strengthen our ability to anticipate, detect, analyse and disrupt threats before they materialise,” he said.
Ribadu called for stronger institutions, improved technical expertise and increased intelligence sharing among regional security agencies.
“Nigeria recognises that no institution, country or sector can defeat terrorism alone,” he said.
He added that Nigeria was working with the AU Counter-Terrorism Centre to secure regional centre of excellence accreditation for the National Counter Terrorism Centre, following President Bola Tinubu’s declaration at the April 2024 High-Level Africa Counterterrorism Summit.