The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, has disclosed that bandits operating in Nigeria are using advanced communication technology that makes it difficult for security agencies to track their calls.
Tijani made the disclosure while appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he was asked about the link between his ministry’s responsibilities and national security.
According to the minister, there is no concrete evidence that bandits rely on regular SIM cards that can be easily tracked through the National Identification Number (NIN) linkage system.
He explained that instead, they make use of a special form of technology to communicate.
He noted that the calls made by bandits do not pass through normal telecommunications towers.
Rather, the communication system allows their calls to bounce off multiple towers, making interception and tracking more complex.
The minister’s comments come amidst growing concerns about the apparent brazenness of non state actors who employ social media amidst other forms of communication.
There have been numerous reports of bandits and terrorists having active TikTok accounts, on which ransom funds have been said to be displayed.
It is hoped that the federal government is able to track and bring the culprits to book through these public posts and showings, including potential phone calls to victims’ families.
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