Two months after telecommunication networks were shut down in Katsina State, Bandits have begun to use Walkie Talkies to bypass the communication restriction.

Mustapha Inuwa, Secretary to the Katsina State Government, said, during a press conference on Thursday afternoon, that bandits have adapted to the measures employed to curb insecurity in 13 local government areas in the state.

Inuwa, chair of the security committee in the state, was reported by Premium Times to have said that the criminal activities of bandits continue despite the measures in place.

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“In spite of the successes recorded however, it is worthy to note that since the commencement of the Containment Order, the bandit elements across the frontline local government areas have been unrelenting in devising new strategies aimed at circumventing the impact of the Containment Order,” said Inuwa.

“The strategies range from attacking motorists/motorcyclists to siphoning PMS from fuel tanks, ransacking communities and coercing villàges into sourcing PMS on their behalf. A recent and most worrisome move by the criminals is the observed acquisition of radio frequency walkie talkie transceivers by the bandits.”

The Katsina State Government announced the suspension of telecommunication activities in 13 local government areas on September 11.

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However, this is not the first time bandits would bypass a telecom restriction. In September, FIJ reported how bandits affiliated with Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) bypassed a restriction with an illegal cyber network in Zamfara.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had directed telecommunication service providers to shut down activities in the state due to lingering insecurity.

While the move yielded results in the first few days, bandits quickly adapted, wrecking havoc afterwards.