Bandits Use Advanced Technology To Evade Security, Says Bosun Tijani
Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s minister of communications, innovation and digital economy, has disclosed that bandits are using advanced technology to evade surveillance, making it difficult for security agencies to track their activities.
Speaking with Seun Okinbaloye on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Friday night, Tijani explained that monitoring the communications of these criminal groups is far more complex than most Nigerians realise.
He said bandits deliberately route their calls through multiple towers, a tactic that allows them to stay ahead of security operatives.
“The reason why the president actually pushed us to invest in towers in those areas is that we realised there was a special kind of technology that they were using to call,” Tijani said. “They were not using the normal towers; they bounce calls off multiple towers. That is why they enjoy living in areas that are unconnected.”
The minister added that the federal government is also working to upgrade Nigeria’s satellites to enhance monitoring and intelligence gathering. “Because if our towers are not working, our satellites will work,” he said.
Tijani stressed that the situation underscores the urgent need for significant investment in telecommunications infrastructure. “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 noted.
His comments come as insecurity surges across the country, particularly in the north, with recent incidents including the abduction of schoolchildren in Niger and Kebbi states and attacks on churches in Kogi and Kwara states.
The ongoing wave of kidnappings and killings has sparked public concern, leading the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to announce a nationwide protest set for December 17.
