{
  "id": 14250272,
  "title": "Terrorists using social media, crypto to recruit, fund attacks — Ribadu, AU",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/terrorists-using-social-media-crypto-to-recruit-fund-attacks-ribadu-au-14250272",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-13T17:24:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/terrorists-using-social-media-crypto-to-recruit-fund-attacks-ribadu-au/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "The National Security Adviser of Nigeria, Nuhu Ribadu, and the African Union Counter-Terrorism Centre have warned that terrorist groups are increasingly using social media, cryptocurrencies, and emerging technologies to recruit members, conceal funds, and coordinate attacks across West Africa and the Sahel. During a three-day regional training conference in Abuja, the AU Counter-Terrorism Centre highlighted that groups like the Islamic State West Africa Province, Boko Haram, and JNIM are expanding their activities through digital technologies. They recruit on social media platforms, move and conceal funds via mobile money, gift cards, and cryptocurrencies, and buy weapons on darknet marketplaces. The director emphasized that the speed and low cost of using digital tools have enabled terrorist cells to reach wider audiences and move faster than security agencies can respond. To address the capacity gap, the AU official called for specialized training, regional coordination, and stronger collaboration with private-sector operators.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "Terrorists using social media, crypto to recruit, fund attacks — Ribadu, AU",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/terrorists-using-social-media-crypto-to-recruit-fund-attacks-ribadu-au",
        "published": "2026-10-13T17:12:06.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}