Sa’adiyyah Adebisi Hassan has again taken to her Facebook page to explain how terrorists who operate openly online can still be traced and located if the Nigerian government is genuinely committed to doing the work.
In her latest write-up, titled How Terrorists Online Can Be Tracked If Government Is Serious (Part II), she debunked the popular claim that terrorists become “untraceable” once they switch to Starlink or foreign SIM cards.
Hassan explained that while Starlink gives the impression of anonymity because it routes traffic through satellites and sometimes assigns IP addresses that appear to originate from other countries, the system still leaves multiple traceable footprints. She noted that every Starlink kit has unique serial numbers linked to an account, with payment and billing details that can be tracked. She added that Starlink records approximate terminal locations, usage patterns, and environmental footprints that can be analysed by security agencies.
According to her, platforms like YouTube or TikTok can identify when an account goes live from a Starlink-assigned IP, after which law enforcement can request terminal data from Starlink. From there, coordinates, account details, financial records used to purchase the device, and even delivery addresses can be retrieved. These can then be combined with on-ground intelligence, drone surveillance, and satellite imagery to pinpoint suspects.
Hassan also addressed terrorists who rely on SIM cards from neighbouring countries such as Niger, Chad, Benin Republic, and Cameroon, believing they are shielded from Nigerian authorities. She explained that although the home network is foreign, the devices are still physically within or near Nigerian borders, meaning their signals hit towers whose GPS locations are known.
She stated that roaming arrangements still produce logs that can be accessed through cross-border intelligence cooperation, while IMEI numbers, which rarely change remain one of the most powerful tools for tracking devices across networks. Nigerian towers, she said, still record tower usage, IMEI, and session timing for foreign SIMs roaming within the country.
Hassan stressed that physical tracking becomes even easier once security agencies narrow down the usual operational zones of these groups, enabling more accurate deployment of drones, air surveillance, and ground forces.
She concluded that the real problem is not technology but the government’s lack of coordination, seriousness and political will. In her words, the systems for tracking exist — “the failure usually lies in the willingness to act.”
