Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, has revealed that bandits in Nigeria are employing “a special kind of technology” to make calls and avoid detection by security agencies, complicating efforts to monitor their activities. The minister made this disclosure during an interview with Seun Okinbaloye on Channels TV's Politics Today on Friday evening.
According to Tijani, tracking and intercepting communications used by these criminal elements is “more technical” than many Nigerians realize, highlighting the sophisticated methods increasingly adopted by bandit networks. He explained that such technology enables bandits to coordinate attacks, communicate securely, and evade conventional monitoring systems employed by law enforcement.
The minister’s comments underscore the evolving nature of insecurity in Nigeria, particularly in rural and remote areas where armed groups operate with increasing sophistication. He warned that understanding and countering the technology requires advanced technical capacity, specialized monitoring tools, and targeted intelligence operations.
Tijani emphasized that intelligence gathering on bandit activities is not a straightforward task, as the criminals’ use of encrypted or unconventional communication channels limits the effectiveness of standard surveillance techniques. He noted that combating these threats demands both technological solutions and inter-agency coordination, as well as continuous training for security personnel to keep pace with the evolving threat landscape.
Security analysts have described Tijani’s revelations as an important acknowledgment of the challenges facing Nigerian authorities. They note that the deployment of advanced communication technology by bandits complicates counter-insurgency efforts and requires innovative responses, including digital intelligence, cyber-monitoring capabilities, and rapid-response strategies informed by real-time data.
The minister called for public understanding of the technical difficulties involved in tracking criminal communications, stressing that enhanced technology adoption by security agencies is essential to outmatch the bandits’ increasingly sophisticated operations. He also reiterated the need for collaborative approaches between government, technology experts, and security agencies to develop solutions capable of mitigating these risks.
Tijani’s remarks come amid rising public concern over banditry and the frequent attacks on communities, farmers, and transport corridors across the northern and central regions of Nigeria. Analysts argue that without investment in technological and intelligence-led policing, efforts to curb insecurity are likely to remain reactive rather than preventive.
The minister’s disclosure adds to growing evidence that criminal networks in Nigeria are rapidly adapting to new technologies, posing fresh challenges to both federal and state security agencies. As investigations and intelligence-gathering continue, authorities are urged to prioritize innovation and capacity-building to address the technological edge increasingly leveraged by bandits.
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