The circulation of viral TikTok videos depicting bandits ostentatiously displaying cash purportedly obtained as ransom for their victims has sparked widespread outrage.
Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency expert and security analyst, drew attention to these videos through a series of posts on his platform on Monday.
Makama revealed that the account responsible for sharing the videos has garnered over 3,000 followers, some of whom openly identify as bandits, showcasing firearms and wearing military or police attire.
In his post, Makama remarked, “The audacity: A bandit on TikTok flaunting and showcasing ransom money collected from victims. The account has amassed 3,000 followers, some of whom are bandits openly displaying their weapons and dressed in military or police uniforms.”
He further lamented that the TikTok platform has provided insurgents with a platform to propagate their campaign of terror without facing any restrictions.
In response to the alarming videos, social media users have criticized the delayed response and apparent inaction by authorities, calling for enhanced security measures and a reassessment of law enforcement priorities.
One user, dataoracle_, expressed, “If our intelligence system is still functional, this data is more than sufficient to identify, track, arrest, and prosecute these criminals. We have the DIA, DSS, and NIA, all with substantial budgets.”
Another user, commented, “What’s truly frustrating is that the video was recorded three days ago. There’s a video where he is seen displaying the location where he collected ransom from his victim”.
Manzodd echoed similar sentiments, stating, “Frankly, there’s more to this than meets the eye. How can bandits amass such large sums of money from abduction victims, and yet the money cannot be traced? Something doesn’t add up. There is a serious gap in addressing this insecurity crisis in our country.”
The alarming proliferation of these videos underscores the urgent need for decisive action by authorities to tackle the escalating security challenges posed by criminal elements in the country.