A suspected terrorist identified as “Buba” livestreamed a two-hour botched midnight attack to over 13,000 TikTok followers, highlighting a disturbing trend of insurgents using social media to broadcast their activities in real-time
In a brazen display of digital defiance, a suspected terrorist operating under the TikTok handle @buba.buba62 livestreamed a failed midnight mission to a live audience of over 13,600 followers. The broadcast, which began at approximately 11:32 pm on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, captured the man—estimated to be in his late 20s or early 30s—and his gang traveling on motorcycles through an undisclosed location. For 119 minutes, viewers watched as the group moved through the darkness, speaking in Hausa and providing a raw, unfiltered look into their insurgent operations before the stream eventually cut out at 1:31 am.
The footage, documented by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), showed the group’s frustration as the mission reportedly fell apart. By the end of the two-hour window, the bandits were heard complaining about their failure to accomplish their objective, though the specific target of the attack remains unknown. Despite the criminal nature of the content, the stream amassed over 42,400 likes before it concluded. This incident follows a series of daytime posts by the same user, showing the crew traveling openly on public roads, reinforcing fears that terrorists are increasingly using social media to broadcast their “invincibility” to the public and potential recruits.
While TikTok took action on Saturday, March 21, by permanently banning the account, there is currently no official confirmation of Buba’s arrest or the interception of his gang by Nigerian security forces. The incident has reignited a heated debate over the “digital haven” that platforms like TikTok have inadvertently provided for insurgents in the Sahel and Northern Nigeria. Security analysts warn that such broadcasts are not merely for show; they serve as psychological warfare, proving that despite ongoing military operations, these groups can still operate—and communicate—with alarming freedom.
NEWS NOW:
