The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, revealed that bandits and terrorists operating in Nigeria have increasingly turned to sophisticated technologies to evade detection and tracking by security agencies.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, Tijani explained that the criminals employ call-hopping technology, a method that allows them to bounce calls off multiple cell towers, making it difficult for authorities to trace their communication or pinpoint their locations.

Key Technology Details:

• Call-Hopping Technology: Bandits and terrorists use this to bounce their calls across multiple towers, preventing authorities from tracing their communications.
• Strategic Locations: These criminals deliberately stay in unconnected or poorly connected areas where there is little to no telecommunications coverage. This strategy further complicates efforts to track their movements and communication.

Tijani emphasized that the technology employed by these criminals ensures that signals disappear once they change locations, making it challenging for security forces to trace their exact positions or predict their next move.

Nigeria’s Countermeasures:

To counter this challenge, Tijani outlined that Nigeria is upgrading its communication infrastructure, particularly by enhancing the capabilities of its communication satellites. He highlighted that Nigeria is the only country in West Africa with its own communication satellites, which will serve as a backup when traditional, ground-based towers fail.

He added, “If our towers are not working, our satellites will work.” This satellite upgrade is designed to bridge the communication gap left by malfunctioning ground infrastructure, giving Nigerian security agencies another tool to combat these criminals.

Government Commitment:

The Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to improving telecommunications infrastructure and strengthening its capacity to track criminals using advanced technologies. Nigeria is not only focusing on upgrading its ground-based towers but is also expanding the capabilities of its satellite communications to ensure that the country stays ahead of the criminals’ technological advancements.