Nigeria's Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, disclosed on December 13, 2025, that bandits employ sophisticated technology to make calls by bouncing signals off multiple towers, evading standard network tracking. This method allows criminals in the northwest to communicate securely without relying on normal cell towers, complicating security forces' efforts to intercept their operations.
Tijani highlighted this during discussions on combating insecurity through digital means, noting the tech's role in enabling kidnappings and attacks in states like Zamfara and Sokoto. The revelation underscores ongoing challenges in Nigeria's fight against banditry, where insurgents adapt advanced tools amid military pressure on leaders like Bello Turji.
Authorities plan enhanced spectrum monitoring and AI-driven analytics to counter such tactics, aligning with Tijani's broader push for digital innovation in security. This comes as northern groups urge surrenders following recent bandit losses.