Terrorists Exploit AI, Crypto & Drones As Nigeria Pushes Regional Security Response

By TOSI ORE

NIGERIA has called for stronger regional cooperation to counter terrorist groups’ growing use of artificial intelligence (AI), drones and digital financial tools across West Africa and the Sahel.

Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), made the call on Tuesday in Abuja. He spoke at the opening of a three-day regional training programme focused on detecting and disrupting terrorists’ use of information and communication technologies.

The Office of the National Security Adviser organised the training in partnership with the African Union Counter-Terrorism Centre (AUCTC) and the Sahel’s Fusion and Liaison Unit (UFL).

According to Laka, terrorist networks increasingly exploit social media, messaging applications, AI-generated content and cryptocurrency transactions to recruit members, spread extremist propaganda, coordinate operations and raise funds. Moreover, their use of drones and other emerging technologies presents additional challenges for security agencies across national borders.

He stressed that African countries must strengthen their ability to identify and disrupt digital threats before they escalate. Consequently, he urged regional security institutions to invest in specialised expertise, improve intelligence sharing and establish lawful mechanisms for exchanging cyber threat information.

Laka explained that the training would prepare participants to transfer their knowledge to security personnel in their respective countries. He also emphasised that effective counterterrorism requires more than acquiring sophisticated equipment. Rather, it depends on developing skilled personnel, strengthening institutions and building reliable partnerships.

Meanwhile, the NCTC coordinator disclosed that the centre was working towards becoming a Regional Centre of Excellence for counterterrorism. The initiative, he said, aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s declaration at the 2024 High-Level Africa Counterterrorism Summit in Abuja.

According to Laka, the NCTC is collaborating with the AUCTC to secure accreditation for the proposed regional role. If approved, the arrangement would enable the centre to support capacity-building efforts across the continent under the AUCTC Continental Cybersecurity Capability Programme 2026–2030.

Earlier, AUCTC Acting Director Idriss Lallali warned that terrorist groups were exploiting affordable technologies to expand their reach and outpace government responses. He identified Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), Boko Haram and Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) among the groups raising concerns for regional security.

Lallali said extremist networks were using social media for recruitment, mobile money and cryptocurrencies for financial transfers, and the darknet to procure weapons. He added that drones were extending their operational capabilities across borders.

He further warned that the speed and affordability of these technologies could allow small terrorist cells to reach large audiences and act faster than conventional security systems could respond. However, he noted that African countries have unequal capacities to confront these threats, making targeted training and coordination increasingly important.

Similarly, UFL Coordinator Amb. Fatima Abdallah-Arasahi, represented at the event by Baba Keita, reaffirmed the unit’s commitment to regional counterterrorism cooperation. She said the organisation was ready to support initiatives that strengthen collaboration among member services and address the misuse of digital technologies.

The three-day programme is expected to improve participants’ technical expertise and strengthen cooperation among representatives of the Economic Community of West African States, the Multinational Joint Task Force and regional intelligence structures. Ultimately, its effectiveness will depend on whether participants can translate the training into practical intelligence-sharing arrangements and coordinated action against technology-enabled terrorism.