Senate Rejects Peace Deals with Bandits, Orders Crackdown on Criminals Using TikTok
Mirian Gom 
ABUJA, Nigeria — The Senate has urged state governments to discontinue negotiations and peace agreements with terrorists and armed bandits, warning that such arrangements often fail to deliver lasting security and may inadvertently strengthen criminal networks.
The upper chamber also directed security agencies to identify and arrest bandits who openly display suspected proceeds of crime on social media platforms, particularly TikTok.
The resolutions followed a motion sponsored by Senator Sunday Karimi, who raised concerns over renewed attacks in communities within Kogi West Senatorial District.
Presenting the motion on Thursday, Karimi cited a recent attack on Iluke-Bunu in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area, where armed assailants reportedly invaded a secondary school and attempted to abduct students sitting for the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination.
The senator said the attack resulted in the deaths of the school’s vice principal, a teacher and another resident. Senate Rejects Peace Deals with Bandits, Orders Crackdown on Criminals Using TikTok
He also referenced another violent incident in Odo-Ere, Yagba West Local Government Area, which occurred a day earlier.
Following deliberations, lawmakers resolved that the Nigeria Police Force and the National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre should intensify surveillance of online platforms being used by criminal elements to flaunt wealth and communicate with the public.
The Senate further invited the leadership of the National Centre for the Control of Arms and Small Weapons to brief lawmakers on arms proliferation and efforts to curb the circulation of illegal weapons across the country.
Lawmakers expressed concern over the growing sophistication of criminal networks and called for stronger intelligence gathering, technology-driven surveillance and coordinated security operations.
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