By Simpson Global Media News Desk
Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and officials of the African Union Counter-Terrorism Centre have warned that terrorist organisations are increasingly exploiting social media, artificial intelligence, cryptocurrencies and other digital technologies to recruit members, conceal financial transactions and coordinate activities across West Africa and the Sahel.
The warning was issued in Abuja during a three-day regional training conference focused on detecting and disrupting terrorist exploitation of information and communication technologies and emerging technologies. The gathering brought together security practitioners and representatives of regional and international institutions to strengthen their capacity to investigate digitally enabled terrorism.
Ribadu, represented at the conference by the National Coordinator of Nigeria’s National Counter Terrorism Centre, Major General Adamu Laka, said the spread of emerging technologies was creating new challenges for security agencies. He stressed that governments must improve their ability to anticipate threats, analyse digital evidence and disrupt terrorist activity before attacks occur.
The Acting Director of the African Union Counter-Terrorism Centre, Idriss Lalalli, said groups including the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), Boko Haram and Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) were extending their reach through digital platforms and other technologies.
According to the officials, terrorist networks can use online platforms for propaganda and recruitment, digital financial services to move funds, drones to expand operational capabilities and artificial intelligence to adapt communications to different audiences.
The conference therefore placed emphasis on specialist training, intelligence sharing and stronger cooperation between governments and private-sector organisations that operate digital and financial infrastructure.
The discussions reflect a growing concern among security officials that counterterrorism operations must address not only armed groups’ physical presence but also the communications, financing and logistical networks that can support their activities across borders. <Cite refs={["turn347592view0","turn347592view2"]}/>
Digital technology is changing the security challenge
Traditional counterterrorism operations often focus on locating armed groups, protecting vulnerable communities, disrupting supply routes and recovering territory from insurgents.
Those tasks remain important, but security officials at the Abuja conference said technology is adding another dimension to the challenge.
Terrorist organisations can operate across several countries while using digital platforms to reach audiences beyond areas under their direct control. Online communications can also connect recruiters, supporters and potential financiers who may be geographically separated from the groups they assist.
Lalalli said the speed and relatively low cost of some digital tools allowed terrorist cells to reach wider audiences and move more quickly than the procedures used by security agencies to respond.
He warned that technical capacity to counter these activities remained unevenly distributed across countries in the region.
The challenge is not simply the availability of new equipment. Security agencies also need personnel who understand digital investigations, the ability to exchange information lawfully across jurisdictions, and systems that can turn information into evidence suitable for prosecution.
For Nigeria, which continues to confront insurgency and other forms of organised violence, this means that battlefield operations and conventional intelligence work may need to be supported by stronger digital investigative capabilities.
However, the use of technology by criminals or armed groups does not make every digital activity suspicious. Investigators must distinguish lawful communications and financial transactions from conduct supported by evidence of criminal activity.
That distinction matters because effective counterterrorism requires both operational capability and respect for legal safeguards.
The conference's central message was that governments must improve their ability to detect and disrupt threats while strengthening the institutions and professional skills needed to investigate cases properly. <Cite refs={["turn347592view0","turn347592view2","turn347592view1"]}/>
Artificial intelligence and online propaganda
Artificial intelligence was among the technologies identified by the officials as a growing concern.
Ribadu said AI-generated content could be produced rapidly and tailored to different audiences, potentially making it easier for extremist groups to distribute propaganda or target recruitment messages.
Digital content can travel quickly between platforms and countries. Where security agencies lack sufficient technical expertise or timely access to relevant information, identifying the source and purpose of particular material may become more difficult.
Lalalli also said terrorist organisations were using technology to extend their reach beyond their physical strongholds.
For investigators, the problem includes determining who created or distributed material, whether it was intended to recruit or incite violence, and whether it is connected to an identifiable network or planned criminal activity.
Specialist digital-forensics skills can help investigators preserve electronic evidence and establish how information moved between accounts or devices. Open-source intelligence techniques can also help analysts assess publicly available information without assuming that every online claim is genuine.
The officials called for stronger training and cooperation so that security personnel can keep pace with changing methods of online communication.
AI tools can also be used by governments and researchers for legitimate purposes, including information analysis and the identification of suspicious patterns. Their use in security work nevertheless requires professional judgement, reliable data and appropriate oversight.
Automated systems can produce errors, misidentify people or misinterpret context. Investigators therefore need procedures for verifying findings and distinguishing technical indicators from evidence that supports a specific allegation.
The challenge identified at the conference is not technology alone, but the ability of institutions to understand its use, assess evidence accurately and respond in a timely manner. <Cite refs={["turn347592view0","turn347592view2"]}/>
Cryptocurrency and digital financial channels
The conference also highlighted the potential use of cryptocurrencies, mobile money, gift cards and other financial channels to conceal or transfer funds associated with terrorist activity.
Lalalli said terrorist organisations were exploiting digital financial services and other mechanisms to move money across borders.
The concern is that investigators may face transactions spread across different providers, countries and financial systems, requiring cooperation to establish where funds originated, who controlled them and whether they were connected to criminal activity.
Digital financial transactions can create records that may assist an investigation, but identifying the individuals behind particular transactions may require additional evidence and cooperation from relevant service providers.
The use of a cryptocurrency or another digital payment method is not, by itself, proof of criminal conduct. The purpose of a transaction must be established through evidence.
The officials said training in blockchain analysis would help investigators follow relevant cryptocurrency transactions and strengthen their ability to identify financial links.
Such work can be technically demanding. Investigators may need to combine transaction analysis with account records, communications, witness information and evidence obtained through lawful procedures.
Cooperation between security agencies, financial institutions and relevant technology providers is therefore important to investigations that cross national borders.
For Nigeria and its neighbours, effective cooperation could help address cases in which a suspected network operates in one country, uses financial services in another and communicates through platforms hosted elsewhere.
The conference's approach emphasised building the technical capacity to investigate such networks rather than assuming that a single agency or technology can resolve the problem. <Cite refs={["turn347592view0","turn347592view2"]}/>
Drones and other emerging technologies
Officials also identified drones and autonomous systems as technologies that can increase the operational capabilities of armed groups.
Lalalli referred to the use of drones by extremist organisations in the Sahel and said technology was expanding the range of methods available to such groups.
Small drones have legitimate civilian applications, including photography, surveying, agriculture and infrastructure inspection. Their potential misuse, however, has created additional concerns for military installations, public infrastructure and civilian areas affected by conflict.
Security agencies may need to combine physical protection, surveillance, intelligence analysis and appropriate technical measures to assess and respond to potential threats.
The effectiveness of those measures depends on the circumstances, available resources and the ability of personnel to interpret information correctly.
The officials' remarks also highlighted the importance of regional cooperation. Digital communications and some emerging technologies can cross borders, while a threat detected in one country may have implications for neighbouring states.
Joint training and timely intelligence sharing could help authorities identify patterns and coordinate responses when there is credible evidence of a shared threat.
However, cooperation must also address differences in national laws, investigative procedures and technical capabilities.
The conference therefore treated technology as one part of a broader security system that includes trained personnel, intelligence, institutional coordination and legal processes. <Cite refs={["turn347592view0","turn347592view2","turn971620search1"]}/>
West Africa and the Sahel face interconnected threats
The conference brought together participants from across West Africa and the Sahel, including representatives of the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Multinational Joint Task Force and other regional and international organisations.
The participation of these institutions reflects the cross-border nature of many security challenges facing the region.
Armed groups may operate in areas where government presence is limited, move between jurisdictions or exploit gaps in coordination among security services. Digital communications and financial networks can further complicate efforts to establish how separate incidents or individuals are connected.
Lalalli identified ISWAP, Boko Haram and JNIM among the organisations extending their reach through technology.
These groups operate in different theatres and have distinct histories and areas of activity. Their mention at the conference does not mean they are part of a single organisation or that all use identical methods.
The broader concern is that security agencies need the ability to investigate threats that do not stop at national borders.
Where information is held by different authorities, delays in sharing actionable intelligence can make it harder to establish connections or respond to emerging threats.
Regional coordination can help address this problem by improving communication between agencies, creating common investigative skills and strengthening procedures for exchanging relevant information.
Such cooperation is particularly important when evidence is held in several countries or when investigators need assistance from private companies that operate internationally.
The Abuja conference aimed to develop some of that capacity through specialised training and the formation of a group of practitioners able to share knowledge with colleagues in their respective institutions. <Cite refs={["turn347592view0","turn347592view2"]}/>
Specialist training at the centre of the response
The three-day programme was designed to strengthen participants' abilities in four principal areas: cyber threat intelligence, open-source intelligence, digital forensics and blockchain analysis.
Cyber threat intelligence involves collecting and assessing information about potential digital threats. In counterterrorism investigations, it can help security personnel understand how online activity may relate to a wider network or suspected plan.
Open-source intelligence involves analysing publicly available material. Used carefully, it can help investigators assess claims, identify relevant connections and establish leads for further inquiry.
Digital forensics focuses on preserving, examining and interpreting electronic evidence. Proper procedures are essential because evidence may need to be presented in court and must be handled in ways that protect its integrity.
Blockchain analysis can help investigators assess transactions recorded on certain digital financial networks and identify patterns that may warrant further investigation.
The officials stressed that these capabilities should work together rather than remain isolated technical skills.
For example, an investigator examining a suspected recruitment network may need to assess public online material, preserve relevant digital records, investigate financial connections and coordinate with authorities in another jurisdiction.
Each part of the process has limitations. Online information can be misleading, digital records may be incomplete, and a financial link does not automatically establish criminal intent.
Investigators must therefore verify information, document their methods and use corroborating evidence before drawing conclusions.
Lalalli said the programme was intended to produce a first cohort of trainers in this specialist area, creating an opportunity for participants to pass their knowledge on to colleagues.
The long-term value of the training will depend on whether participants can apply the skills in their agencies, whether equipment and technical support are available, and whether institutions continue to invest in professional development. <Cite refs={["turn347592view0","turn347592view2"]}/>
Private-sector cooperation is also necessary
A major issue raised at the conference was the role of privately operated digital infrastructure.
Social media companies, telecommunications operators and financial service providers control systems that may hold information relevant to investigations. Security agencies may need their cooperation to preserve records, identify accounts or examine transactions linked to credible criminal allegations.
Lalalli called for stronger partnerships with these organisations, noting that much of the infrastructure exploited by terrorist groups is privately owned.
Cooperation can help investigators respond more effectively, but it must operate within applicable laws and procedures.
Clear rules are important when requests involve personal information, private communications or financial records. They help establish what information can be disclosed, which authorities may request it and how the information can be used.
Private-sector cooperation can also support prevention. Companies may have systems for reporting suspicious activity, enforcing platform rules and responding to lawful requests from authorities.
However, no single company can independently resolve a regional security challenge. Effective cooperation requires communication among service providers, national authorities and regional partners, together with suitable legal safeguards.
The officials' appeal for stronger collaboration reflects the reality that digital threats may involve infrastructure, accounts or transactions located outside the country where an investigation begins.
For Nigeria, developing dependable relationships with relevant providers could strengthen investigations into online recruitment, suspected terrorist financing and other digitally enabled offences.
The success of those relationships will depend on trust, clear procedures and the ability of all parties to distinguish credible security concerns from unsupported allegations. <Cite refs={["turn347592view0","turn347592view2"]}/>
Nigeria seeks a stronger regional counterterrorism role
Ribadu said Nigeria was working with the African Union Counter-Terrorism Centre to secure accreditation for the National Counter Terrorism Centre as a regional centre of excellence for counterterrorism in West Africa and the Sahel.
He linked the initiative to President Bola Tinubu's declaration at the High-Level Africa Counterterrorism Summit in April 2024.
The proposed accreditation would represent a step towards strengthening Nigeria's regional role in specialist counterterrorism work. The announcement does not mean that accreditation has already been granted.
A regional centre of excellence could potentially support training, the exchange of expertise and the development of investigative capabilities among participating countries.
Its practical value would depend on the mandate it receives, the resources available, the quality of its programmes and the extent to which other institutions use the skills and knowledge developed through its work.
The Abuja conference provides an example of the kind of capacity-building activity that officials want to expand: participants from different countries and institutions receiving specialised training that can be applied in their own organisations.
If the accreditation process progresses, Nigeria and its regional partners would need to clarify how the centre would complement existing structures, avoid duplication and measure its results.
The broader objective is to improve cooperation against threats that individual countries may struggle to address alone. <Cite refs={["turn347592view0","turn347592view2"]}/>
Intelligence must be matched with institutional coordination
The conference also underscored that acquiring sophisticated equipment is not enough to address technology-enabled terrorism.
Ribadu said security agencies needed stronger technical expertise, institutional coordination and cooperation across relevant sectors.
The point is significant because information gathered by one institution may be useful only if it reaches the people responsible for assessing and acting on it.
Where agencies use incompatible systems, lack clear responsibilities or face delays in sharing information, valuable leads may not translate into effective action.
Coordinated procedures can help establish which agency is responsible for a particular part of an investigation, how information should be passed between institutions and how evidence should be preserved.
Training can also help officers develop a shared understanding of digital threats and the standards required for evidence to support an investigation.
Technology must be supported by personnel who understand its capabilities and limitations. Equipment that is poorly maintained, used without adequate training or disconnected from decision-making processes may deliver limited benefits.
The officials' emphasis on institutional capacity suggests that the response must involve continuing investment in people, procedures and cooperation rather than focusing only on the purchase of new systems.
These changes can take time, particularly when several countries and agencies are involved. Their effectiveness will need to be judged by improvements in investigative capability, the quality of evidence produced and the ability to disrupt credible threats lawfully. <Cite refs={["turn347592view0","turn347592view2","turn347592view1"]}/>
Responsible reporting and public trust
The wider national security discussion in Abuja has also highlighted the relationship between security institutions, the media and public understanding.
At a separate Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria conference, Defence Minister Christopher Musa emphasised intelligence-led operations, modern technology, inter-agency coordination and public trust.
He said technology should support rather than replace professional judgement and highlighted the importance of protecting sensitive operational information while maintaining accountability.
The minister also recognised the role of media scrutiny and called for accurate, verified reporting that takes operational considerations into account without weakening the public's right to understand security developments. <Cite refs={["turn347592view1"]}/>
The issue is relevant to digital counterterrorism because online environments can contain unverified claims, misleading material and content circulated without sufficient context.
Security reporting therefore requires careful verification, particularly when allegations concern specific individuals, incidents or organisations.
Responsible reporting does not mean treating official statements as beyond scrutiny. It means distinguishing confirmed facts from allegations, clearly attributing claims and correcting errors when reliable new information becomes available.
For the public, accurate reporting can help people understand the nature of a threat without creating unnecessary panic or presenting speculation as established fact.
For security agencies, transparent communication can support trust, while appropriate protection of sensitive operational details can help avoid exposing information that could undermine an ongoing operation.
Maintaining that balance is difficult but important. Public confidence depends on credible information, accountability and the ability to assess security developments against independently established facts where possible.
The separate defence-media conference and the regional counterterrorism training both pointed to the importance of coordination, professional expertise and sound judgement in responding to a changing security environment. <Cite refs={["turn347592view0","turn347592view1"]}/>
What the developments mean for Nigeria
The warnings from the Abuja conference point to a shift in the capabilities that security agencies need as technology becomes more deeply embedded in communications, finance and daily life.
Nigeria's counterterrorism response will continue to require field operations and intelligence gathering. The officials' remarks indicate that those efforts also need to be supported by people trained to investigate digital activity, preserve electronic evidence and follow financial connections across jurisdictions.
Regional cooperation is another central requirement. A suspected network may operate across several countries, and evidence relevant to an investigation may be held by different authorities or private service providers.
Training and common investigative procedures can help improve the ability to work across those boundaries, although they cannot guarantee that every threat will be detected or prevented.
The proposed regional centre-of-excellence accreditation could provide another avenue for Nigeria to contribute to specialist training and cooperation if the process is completed.
For communities affected by violence, the ultimate test is whether improved capabilities contribute to fewer attacks, better protection of civilians, more effective investigations and lawful prosecution of those responsible for crimes.
The announcements at the conference describe priorities and planned capacity-building efforts. They do not, by themselves, demonstrate that the regional threat has been reduced or that every proposed measure is already operational.
The impact will depend on implementation, sustained funding, professional training, cooperation with relevant service providers and effective coordination among national and regional institutions.
What happens next?
The three-day training programme is intended to equip participants with practical skills in cyber threat intelligence, open-source intelligence, digital forensics and blockchain analysis.
The African Union Counter-Terrorism Centre has urged participants to share their expertise with colleagues and strengthen cooperation with public and private institutions.
Nigeria's proposed accreditation of the National Counter Terrorism Centre as a regional centre of excellence remains an additional objective that would require further progress through the relevant process.
The next steps for the participating institutions will include applying the training, strengthening information-sharing arrangements and building effective working relationships with telecommunications operators, financial service providers and social media companies.
The wider challenge is to ensure that digital investigations are timely, technically sound and consistent with legal requirements. Authorities will need to verify information carefully, protect sensitive data and produce evidence that can withstand scrutiny.
For Nigeria and its neighbours, the conference serves as a reminder that security threats can extend beyond physical territory into communications and financial systems. A response that combines field capabilities with specialist digital investigation and regional cooperation may improve authorities' ability to identify and disrupt such activity.
The officials have made clear that no single institution or country can defeat terrorism alone. Turning that message into measurable progress will require sustained cooperation, trained personnel and a consistent focus on protecting the public.
Sources used for verification
Punch Newspapers — “Terrorists deploy AI, crypto to evade security agencies – Ribadu,” October 14, 2026.
https://punchng.com/terrorists-deploy-ai-crypto-to-evade-security-agencies-ribadu/Premium Times — “African security chiefs strategise to tackle exploitation of social media, digital technologies by terrorists,” October 14, 2026.
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/917029-african-security-chiefs-strategise-to-tackle-exploitation-of-social-media-digital-technologies-by-terrorists.htmlVoice of Nigeria — “Defence Minister Emphasises Intelligence, Technology in National Security,” October 14, 2026.
https://von.gov.ng/defence-minister-emphasises-intelligence-technology-in-national-security/
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