“Terrorists Showing Off Ransom Online Evade Tracking Because They Use Starlink and Foreign Networks,” Presidency Says

The Presidency says extremist groups posting videos of weapons and ransom cash on social media continue to evade arrest because they operate on satellite internet and foreign mobile networks that Nigerian security systems cannot trace.

Presidential spokesperson Daniel Bwala explained in a radio interview that investigators rely on information from domestic service providers, making it difficult to locate users who bypass local networks.

“There is a regulatory body in Nigeria with a database of Nigerian users, and another that oversees internet service provision,” he said. “If you are using an internet service covered within Nigeria, we can trace you through your IP address.”

He noted that the situation changes once the connection is routed outside the country.

“If you are using Starlink, we cannot trace it because Starlink is not registered in Nigeria. It’s in the space,” he said.

Bwala added that many of the groups posting ransom videos and messages are not connecting through Nigerian telecom operators at all.

“They are, most of the time, using cellular services from neighbouring countries, not Nigeria. So it becomes tricky,” he said.

The comments were made in response to concerns about why government critics are easily tracked while armed groups openly flaunt illicit activities online without immediate consequence.