How Bandits used advanced technology to evade tracking — Minister

The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, has revealed that bandits operating across Nigeria are using advanced technology to make phone calls and avoid detection by security agencies.

Tijani made the disclosure during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, explaining that monitoring the communications of criminal networks is far more complex than the public often assumes

According to the minister, bandits adopt sophisticated techniques that make it difficult for security agencies to track their movements and communications.

He said the criminals deliberately route their calls through multiple telecommunications towers in order to confuse monitoring systems and frustrate security operatives attempting to trace their locations.

“The reason why the President actually pushed us to invest in towers in those areas is that we realised that there was a special kind of technology that they were using to communicate,” Tijani said

“They are not using the normal towers; they bounce calls off multiple towers. That is why they enjoy living in areas that are unconnected.”

Tijani noted that the Federal Government is responding by strengthening the nation’s digital and surveillance infrastructure, including plans to upgrade Nigeria’s satellites to improve security monitoring.

“Because if our towers are not working, our satellites will work,” he said.

The minister stressed that the situation underscores the urgent need for major investment in telecommunications infrastructure nationwide, pointing out Nigeria’s limited capacity when compared with other countries.

“If you go to China, they have over four million 5G towers. The total number of towers we have in Nigeria is just about 40,000,” he added.

His remarks come against the backdrop of renewed insecurity in several parts of the country, particularly in the northern region.