#EndbadgovernanceinNigeria

The terrorists, bandits, and kidnappers in Nigeria are not afraid to flaunt their weapons and ransom cash on social media. They post videos of hostages begging their families and friends to pay for their release, all in the full glare of the public.

It honestly feels like you’re almost as likely to see them on your timeline as you are to see streamers and influencers. Anyone who has come across their posts must have, at one point or another, asked a crucial question: How are they getting away with this, and how has their online presence not yet led the government to track and arrest them?

Why is there a terrorist on my feed?

You open up your favourite social media app for another doomscrolling session, and instead of another silly argument on X or cute dance videos on TikTok, you see something very different. It’s men in faded khakis with machine guns, counting massive stacks of cash.

These men are terrorists, bandits, or kidnappers and the cash is ransom money. So you’re probably thinking, “I shouldn’t be seeing this. It does not belong on this platform,” but you open TikTok again another day, and it’s there; you don’t want it to be, but it just is. That is the bizarre reality we are living in Nigeria. Terrorists and bandits have decided that kidnapping and mass murder are not enough; they now need to be content creators.

But why do they feel the need to rub their crimes in our faces?

Everyone’s an influencer now… even terrorists

If you think the terrorists posting videos on social media are out of place amongst your favourite influencers, you are dead wrong. They are influencers too, just with different goals in mind.

Social media may be a new platform, but terrorist groups have, for a long time, used mass media to publicise their activities. This is because it allows the world to know what their motivations are. Most importantly, it is a great job advert.

We have previously discussed how extremist groups in Nigeria use money to recruit soldiers from poor communities. Like in early 2025 when the terror group known as Lukarawas offered ₦1 million to new recruits. The terrorists of Nigerian TikTok are showing off their cash because they want potential recruits to see just how much money they too can make if they join their ranks. The goal is to turn their crime into a successful brand.

To the poor and desperate youths in the Northern parts of Nigeria, where there is little education and few options, these videos advertise crime as a rewarding career path.

During the “End Bad Governance” protests in August 2024, a bandit posted a TikTok video asking the protesters to send him their account details.

At the end of the protests, which were sparked by widespread hunger, the Nigerian government charged a group of minors with treason for taking part in the protest. Treason carries the death sentence. So for those poor boys, the option becomes: die protesting your hunger, or join the extremists in the forests, counting cash.

In all the madness, there are two nagging questions: Why are the terrorists so bold, and why can’t the government use their digital footprints to track and arrest them?

Where did you buy your audacity?

These extremists appear in these videos barefaced, completely unafraid of being identified. Security experts believe it is a deliberate strategy to show the government just how fearless they are.

Basically, they are saying there is nothing the government can do about it. And so far, the Nigerian government is proving them right. So, if you are asking where they bought their audacity, the answer is that the government sold it to them.

The one group of influencers the government can’t dox

Government mouthpieces who have spoken on the issue seem to want us to believe that the problem is technical.

Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has said that terrorists operating online cannot be tracked because they do not use local internet service providers. According to Bwala, Nigerian security agencies can easily track local internet users because there are regulatory bodies that maintain a database of citizens and their phone numbers. But he claims the terrorists use Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite network, and that makes it impossible for the Nigerian government to track them.

Too many Nigerians have had the harrowing experience of negotiating a loved one’s release over the phone with kidnappers. Well, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, says the bandits’ phones cannot be tracked either. Tijani claims they are especially hard to track because they use special technology to bounce their calls over multiple cell towers.

We can’t track them… except when we can

We might have bought Bwala and Tijani’s stories if this government could keep its story straight.

In November 2025, armed men invaded a church in Eruku in Kwara state and kidnapped 38 worshippers. Days later, the worshippers were released. During an interview with Arise News on November 24, presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, said that the federal government had made contact with the kidnappers and demanded they release the hostages or face consequences.

He said, “They made contact with the bandits to secure the release of the captives. Our security agencies have systems for tracking these criminals, which allow them to monitor developments in real time.”

So which is it? Can the government track these criminals or not?

According to Onanuga, the kidnappers released the hostages because they were afraid of the force the government would come down on them with if they continued to hold them. There is so much to unpack in that statement.

Why did the government get involved in that particular case and not others? Why is the government allowing armed groups to go scot-free after releasing hostages? Aren’t they just going to find another group to kidnap?

We have so many questions.

No more excuses

Whatever the technical limitations that are preventing the government from tracking and neutralising these violent extremists, it should be a priority to fix and address them.

Upgrading the digital capabilities of our security forces must be top of the agenda for any spending on defence. We need more than excuses from this government. We need solutions. We need answers. We need a safer Nigeria. And we need it now.

But if we’re going to get them, we have to demand it. We have to be loud and clear that we are not buying excuses anymore. We want to see results and we want to see action.

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Former vice-president Atiku Abubakar and President Tinubu are in a toxic throuple. If you’re wondering who the third person in the trio is, it’s you because you’re about to find out all their dirty business.

In case you didn’t know Atiku and Tinubu were competitors during the 2023 presidential election but you already know how that story ends. Ever since then, Atiku has been vocal about Tinubu’s shortcomings. Some say he’s a sore loser, and others say he’s a concerned Nigerian. I say he’s a little bit of both.

Recently, Atiku presented a constitutional idea that you might like but Tinubu will definitely hate and he’s sent it to the National Assembly to make things legal.

What is Atiku’s bright idea?

Atiku is suggesting that presidents and governors should now be allowed to serve for only one term and that term should last for six years. For extra context, Nigerian leaders are currently allowed to serve for two terms with each term lasting for four years.

Before you go “Hope Atiku is not mad?”, you should know that what the Tinubu-led administration is proposing is worse. Lawmakers are currently trying to extend each term to six years and retain the constitutional right for a president to serve for two terms, making 12 years in total. You should also know that the bill has already passed its first reading. So as far as poisons are concerned, Atiku’s poison wins this round.

And there’s more

Another thing Atiku is proposing is that the role of the president is constitutionally rotated periodically between the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria so we’ll never have to worry about a presidential candidate demanding votes like it’s a birthright.

He also suggested that candidates should start submitting their educational certificates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). If they’ve lost their certificates, they can submit an affidavit explaining their qualifications, when they got them, and where they studied.

This lowkey feels like a direct attack on Tinubu whose university certificate submitted to INEC could not be confirmed or disclaimed by the university he “attended”. But that didn’t matter because, under the Nigerian constitution, a presidential candidate is only required to have at least a school leaving certificate.

The part where it gets messy is that President Tinubu didn’t submit that either. His entire education record is very controversial – from claims of gender swaps to inconsistencies in his date of birth. According to the court, he’s educated but with small touch of false information that are being referred to as “clerical error”.

Why should you care?

Just this year alone, the news of constitutional amendments to extend the term of leadership to six years has surfaced twice. In Nigeria, we’ve done more with less. This is the same country where the national anthem was changed overnight. So don’t be surprised if you wake up one day to find out that they’ve successfully amended the constitution.

You should care because this can either catch you by surprise or you can be an active participant in the decision by making sure that young people are not left out of these conversations. And if you’re not sure how young Nigerians fit into constitutional conversations, read this.

What’s happening?

Five months after Nigerians in Ibadan protested economic hardships under the Tinubu administration, youths in the country plan to embark on a nationwide protest starting on August 1.

The protest, tagged “End Bad Governance in Nigeria,” aims to express frustration with the worsening cost-of-living crisis since President Tinubu took office.

Several groups, including Concerned Nigerians, Revolution Now, Human Rights Co Advocacy Group, Nigerians Against Corruption Initiative, Timely Intervention, Youths Against Tyranny, Students for Change, and Active Citizens Group, have announced peaceful demonstrations across the country, starting Thursday, August 1.

Former presidential candidate and Revolution Now convener Omoyele Sowore shared a list of participating states on X and encouraged others to attend the rallies.

How’s the government reacting?

Since the announcement, government officials and security forces have urged the public to avoid the protests, referencing the #ENDSARS protest of 2020.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, in a post shared on his personal account, said protest has never been a solution for nations to solve their challenges.

Lagos Governor Sanwo-Olu advised caution, while Kano Governor Uba Sani warned residents against participating, referencing a deadly protest in 2000. Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun also discouraged protests, stating they often result in losses of lives and property.

Governors of Abia, Akwa Ibom, Benue, and Imo, among others, have also condemned the protest.

Meanwhile, the presidency disowned a fake statement attributed to President Tinubu, falsely claiming he pleaded with protesters and announced reforms, including a 50% salary cut for top officials.

Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Ajuri Ngelale clarified that the statement did not come from the presidency.

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What about Nigeria’s security forces?

The Department of State Services (DSS) warned that criminal elements might hijack the protest and cause unrest. According to the DSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, the planned protest is politically motivated.

Police and military in Lagos, Abia, Borno, Enugu, and Kwara states have similarly cautioned residents, suggesting that miscreants might exploit the peaceful protests.

How are Nigerians reacting?

Reactions to the planned protest are mixed. Many young Nigerians on social media encourage peaceful participation in pressing their demands.

Everything You Need To Know About the Upcoming #EndBadGovernanceinNigeria Protest

However, on Sunday, July 28, photos and videos emerged of a counter-rally tagged “Say No to Protest” in Lagos, where participants expressed support for President Tinubu’s administration. The individuals called on other youths in the country to shun the protest.

Here’s how some Nigerians reacted to the counter-protest:

Planned sabotage ahead of protest?

There are allegations that the government is collaborating with telcos to restrict access following MTN’s unexpected barring of customer lines.

However, on Monday, July 29, the Nigerian Communications Commission directed telcos to restore disconnected lines.

Protest begins early in Niger state

The protest against bad governance and the cost-of-living crisis began three days earlier than planned.

On Monday, July 29, youths in Niger State took to the streets to voice their frustration over the hardships Nigerians are currently facing.

The young protesters held placards with messages like “Enough is Enough,” “Hardship is Unbearable,” and “We Are Not Slaves in Our Country.”

However, the Niger State police spokesperson, Abiodun Wasiu, confirmed that law enforcement agents dispersed the protesters.

NYSC warns corps members ahead of planned protest

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has warned corps members against participating in the planned protest, stating that it goes against its policies.

In a circular sent to state coordinators, local government inspectors, and zonal inspectors, the NYSC also instructed corps members to refrain from wearing their uniforms for now. Additionally, all CDS and biometric capturing activities have been suspended until further notice.

This is a developing story.