‎BY AHMED AKANBI
‎
‎Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has called on the Department of State Service, DSS, Police and other security agencies to deploy digital intelligence and smart technologies to combat terrorism and banditry, saying online activities should provide actionable leads for law enforcement.
‎
‎Speaking on a national television station in Abuja on Thursday, the lawmaker expressed concern over the increasing use of social media by suspected criminal groups to publicise their activities.
‎
‎She cited reports of a recent TikTok livestream in which suspected bandits allegedly distributed money to viewers, and said such incidents should prompt immediate investigations using available digital evidence.
‎
‎“I have consistently advocated the deployment of smart technologies to curb insecurity. It is alarming that some terrorists now engage the public through their social media handles,” she said.
‎
‎Akpoti-Uduaghan questioned why security agencies did not utilise the digital trail to identify those allegedly involved in the reported livestream.
‎
‎The senator, a member of the Constitution Review Committee, also reiterated her support for the establishment of state police, describing decentralised policing as critical to improving intelligence gathering and addressing security challenges at the community level.
‎
‎She, however, stressed that any state police framework must include strong constitutional safeguards to prevent abuse by political office holders.
‎
‎“My greatest concern is the abuse of state police by both state and national political actors,” she said.