Nuhu Ribadu Warns Terrorists Are Using AI, Cryptocurrency to Evade Security Agencies

National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu has warned that terrorists are increasingly exploiting artificial intelligence (AI), social media and cryptocurrency to recruit members, finance operations and coordinate attacks.

Ribadu, represented by National Counter Terrorism Centre Coordinator Major General Adamu Garba Laka, gave the warning at a regional counterterrorism training conference in Abuja organised by the National Counter Terrorism Centre and the African Union Counter-Terrorism Centre.

He said security agencies must strengthen digital intelligence, financial tracking and cross-border cooperation to detect and disrupt technology-enabled threats.

The Acting Director of the African Union Counter-Terrorism Centre, Idriss Lalalli, also identified groups including Boko Haram, ISWAP and JNIM as organisations exploiting digital platforms for recruitment, propaganda and financing.

Ribadu further disclosed that Nigeria was working to secure regional-centre-of-excellence status for the National Counter Terrorism Centre to strengthen counterterrorism cooperation across West Africa and the Sahel.

The three-day conference, running from October 13 to 15, focuses on cyber-threat intelligence, digital forensics and blockchain analysis.

However, officials did not identify any specific Nigerian attack conclusively linked to the use of AI or cryptocurrency during the announcement.