Minister Says Bandits Exploit Telecom Gaps to Coordinate Attacks

The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, has said bandits and terrorists are able to communicate with relative ease because they exploit coverage gaps in Nigeria’s telecommunications network.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, Tijani said the groups rely on advanced technologies that allow them to route calls across several towers, particularly in rural areas with weak or non-existent connectivity.

“They weren’t using the normal towers; they bounced calls off multiple towers, which is why they favour areas that are largely unconnected,” he said.

Responding to fears over the continued use of unregistered or fraudulently registered SIM cards despite the Bank Verification Number and National Identification Number–SIM linkage exercises, the minister said the matter was “technically complex” and existing reports were not conclusive.

“Whether it’s fact or not, I do not know where you’re getting that from, and I do not know who has evidence that there are people with unregistered SIMs,” he added.

Tijani said the federal government was investing in new telecom towers in underserved communities, upgrading Nigeria’s communication satellites and expanding fibre-optic infrastructure to strengthen nationwide coverage.

“If our towers are not working, our satellites will work. Nigeria is the only country in West Africa with communication satellites, and we are bringing new satellites to upgrade their capabilities,” he said.

He disclosed that the aim of the reforms was to improve connectivity for citizens while tightening gaps exploited by criminal networks, thereby supporting national security efforts.

His comments follow continued fears over insecurity in parts of the North, where banditry, kidnapping and terrorism have persisted.

Security agencies report that many of the groups coordinate attacks across remote areas with limited network access, complicating efforts to track them.

There have also been instances of ransom displays on social media platforms such as TikTok, prompting further alarm among authorities.

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