Wike’s Aide Demands TikTok Ban in Nigeria Over Alleged Child Pornography

Lere Olayinka, an aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has called on the Nigerian government to review the continued operation of TikTok in the country following a disturbing child abuse case in Anambra State.

Olayinka said the social media platform should either be banned or subjected to stricter regulation if authorities are unable to prevent its misuse for the exploitation of children.

His demand followed the arrest of a 36-year-old woman, Anulika Onyeanusia, by the Anambra State Police Command over an alleged case of child pornography in Onitsha.

The case came to public attention after a disturbing video involving a minor circulated online.

Police said the arrest was made on Thursday, September 10, after operatives acted on information obtained through open-source intelligence concerning the video.

Olayinka, who reacted to the arrest, reportedly questioned the continued unrestricted use of TikTok in Nigeria, particularly where the platform could be exploited to generate money from harmful content involving minors.

The former media aide to Wike argued that the incident should not be treated only as an individual criminal case but should also prompt a wider discussion about online safety and the protection of children.

He called on relevant authorities to examine the safeguards available on TikTok and determine whether they are sufficient to protect Nigerian children from exploitation.

The call came as the Anambra police intensified their investigation into the alleged abuse.

Police spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed that Onyeanusia was arrested in Onitsha following the circulation of the disturbing video.

The police operation also resulted in the rescue of four children.

The children are aged two, three, six and nine years respectively.

Sex-related items and other materials considered relevant to the investigation were also recovered by the operatives.

The suspect remains in police custody as detectives work to establish what happened and whether other people were involved.

Her husband is also being questioned by the police.

Ikenga said the investigation would determine the circumstances surrounding the alleged offence and establish the possible involvement of other persons.

“The suspect is currently in police custody as the Command intensifies its investigation into the circumstances surrounding the alleged offence and the possible involvement of other persons,” Ikenga said.

The police have also stressed that the investigation is not limited to the arrested woman.

The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, described the alleged act as unacceptable.

He expressed concern over the fact that children were allegedly involved in the incident and directed officers to conduct a thorough investigation.

The commissioner also ordered that the rescued children receive appropriate care and protection.

“To this end, the Command notes that beyond the investigation and prosecution, its priority is the safety, dignity and wellbeing of the rescued children.”

The command said it would work with child-protection and support agencies to ensure the children receive counselling, protection and other assistance needed for their recovery.

It also assured that the identities and privacy of the children would be protected throughout the investigation.

“The Command will work with the appropriate child-protection and relevant support agencies to ensure that the victims receive the necessary care, protection, counselling and other support required for their recovery.”

“Their identities and privacy will be protected throughout the process, and they will be treated with compassion and sensitivity.”

The police also commended residents, vigilante operatives and bloggers who provided information that assisted the investigation and eventually led to the arrest.

Platforms such as TikTok allow users to create and distribute videos to large audiences within a short period.

While the platforms have rules against child sexual exploitation and other harmful content, cases involving minors continue to generate concern among governments and law enforcement agencies.

Recall in 2021, the Federal Government suspended Twitter’s operations in Nigeria after accusing the platform of allowing its service to be used in ways considered harmful to national security.

The suspension lasted for several months before the government lifted it in January 2022 after discussions with the platform.