Terrorists May Shift Radicalisation Online, Says Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, expressed fears that with the movement of activities to the cyberspace as a result of the lockdown occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, terrorist groups may begin to radicalise citizens online.

He said the government would, therefore, continue to monitor activities of terrorists online to control any of such radicalisation of citizens by terrorist groups, and other violent cells.

According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President made his position known in his remark at the AQABA Process virtual meeting in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

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The statement was titled, ‘At AQABA Process virtual meeting, President Buhari highlights nexus between COVID-19 and security.’

Adesina quoted the President as saying that the migration to the cyberspace posed a greater risk for radicalisation, especially with the growing constraints on physical contacts and movements.

“It is important to state that the spread of COVID-19 has led to the movement of activities to cyberspace.

“Furthermore, lockdown policies and restrictions of movement in affected areas means that people would move their day to day social and business activities to cyberspace.

“This, however, comes with an increase in the risk of individuals being radicalised online,” the statement quoted Buhari as saying.

Buhari also said the Federal Government would sustain efforts to make adjustments to new lifestyles and be sensitive to security underpinnings, as experts try to find vaccines for COVID-19, and a possible acceptable cure.