Terrorists Using Point-of-Sale Terminals To Collect Ransoms, Says Counter Terrorism Centre Boss

The director general of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, has lamented that ransom payments remained a significant source of terror financing, with Point of Sale (POS) operators increasingly exploited to move funds.

Speaking at an end-of-year briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, he explained that in many cases, ransom payments are transferred to accounts belonging to POS operators, who then release the cash to kidnappers, making tracking more difficult.

“You see a transfer made by terrorists, and when you investigate the account, it belongs to a POS operator. The kidnappers give out the POS operator’s number, the money is transferred, and they go to collect it,” he said.

The counter-terrorism chief stated that security agencies had intensified efforts to track ransom payments, arrest those involved, and disrupt terror financing networks, but emphasised that operational details could not be disclosed for security reasons.

He revealed that several arrests and prosecutions had been made in connection with ransom payments and terrorism financing, adding that asset recoveries and seizures formed part of Nigeria’s compliance with international anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing standards.

Laka said the country’s recent progress in meeting the requirements of the Financial Action Task Force was partly due to coordinated investigations by a joint committee involving security agencies, financial intelligence units and the judiciary.

While acknowledging the challenges posed by evolving terror tactics and porous borders in the Sahel region, he assured Nigerians that security agencies would continue to strengthen both physical and digital counter-terrorism efforts.

“We are doing our best, and we will not relent. In 2026, we are going to up our game,” he said.

Laka also disclosed that Nigerian security agencies are working with major social media companies to identify and take down accounts used by terrorist and criminal groups to promote their activities and raise funds.

He said platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and X had been used by terrorists to publicise operations, display looted items and communicate with supporters.

According to him, security agencies have held several meetings with social media companies to address posts and accounts that pose a threat to national security.

“These platforms are businesses and are interested in growing their user base, but we engage them and explain the implications of certain posts on national security, and we take them down,” Laka said.

He noted that terrorist tactics continue to evolve, including the use of aliases and unverified accounts, adding that security agencies constantly adapt to counter such developments.