The Katsina state government has disclosed that bandits now use walkie talkies to bypass the telecommunications shutdown order implemented two months ago.
The secretary to the Katsina State Government. SSG, Mustapha Inuwa, revealed this on Thursday, November 18, 2021, during a press briefing in the state.
He said the bandits now attack vehicles to draw fuel from their tanks and ransacking communities to steal their valuables all in a bid to carry out their nefarious activities.
He said, “It is worth noting that since the commencement of the Containment Order, the bandits’ elements across frontline Local Government Areas have been unrelenting in devising new strategies aimed at circumventing the impact of the Containment Order.
“The recent and most worrisome trend is the acquisition of Radio Frequency Walkie-Talkie Transceivers by the bandits.
”The strategies ranges from “attacking motorists/motorcyclists to siphon PMS from their fuel tanks, ransacking communities, and coercing villagers into sourcing PMS on their behalf.”
Notwithstanding, he said the security agencies are on their trail with a view to bringing the malpractice to an end.
Consequently, he advised that: ”while the State Government is making relentless and concerted efforts to restore peace and security in the frontline Local Government areas and other parts of the State, it is imperative to highlight that the issue of security is everybody’s business. Hence, the need for members of the public’s cooperation with Government in order to succeed.”
However, he said the state government has recorded successes in the fight against banditry and other related crimes in the state.
