Bandits operating in Katsina state have acquired Radio Frequency Walkie Talkie Transceivers as part of efforts to evade being affected by the telecommunications service shutdown in the state.
The state government had in September announced the ban on telecommunications networks in 13 frontline local government areas of the state to stem bandits’ attacks.
But in a press conference Thursday afternoon, Secretary Government of the state, Mustapha Muhammad Inuwa, said the bandits are becoming unrelenting in their efforts to circumvent the security order.
“In spite of the successes recorded, however, it is worthy to note that since the commencement of the Containment Order, the bandits’ elements across the frontline local government areas have been unrelenting in devising new strategies aimed at circumventing the impact of the containment order.
“The strategies range from attacking motorists/motorcyclists to siphon PMS from fuel tanks, to ransacking communities and coercing villages into sourcing to ransacking communities and coercing villagers 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,” he said.
Mr Inuwa, who is also chairman of the security committee in the state, said security agents have been on the trail of bandits using the walkie talkie.
The statistics
He said from March to September, 2021 480 suspected have been arrested, 42 have been under investigation; 216 under prosecution.
While noting that there has been reduction in the bandits’ attacks since the Containment Order, Mr Inuwa added that from September to date 244 suspects have been arrested with 33 under investigation and 80 under prosecution.
