Terrorists Turn to AI, Crypto to Fund Attacks, Recruit Fighters — Ribadu, AU

Terrorists Turn to AI, Crypto to Fund Attacks, Recruit Fighters — Ribadu, AU

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, and the African Union Counter-Terrorism Centre have raised the alarm over the growing use of social media, cryptocurrencies and emerging technologies by terrorist groups to recruit members, finance operations and coordinate attacks across West Africa and the Sahel.

They issued the warning on Tuesday in Abuja at a three-day regional training conference focused on detecting and disrupting terrorists’ exploitation of information and communication technologies and emerging technologies.

The Acting Director of the AU Counter-Terrorism Centre, Idriss Lalalli, said groups such as the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), Boko Haram and Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) were increasingly exploiting digital platforms to expand their reach and strengthen their operational capabilities.

“Across West Africa and the Sahel today, ISWAP, Boko Haram and JNIM are extending their reach through technology. They recruit on social media platforms, move and conceal funds via mobile money, gift cards and cryptocurrencies,” Lalalli said.

He added that the groups were acquiring weapons through darknet marketplaces, communicating through satellite links, deploying drones across borders and using artificial intelligence to customise propaganda and evade detection.