Bandits operating in Katsina State are using Radio Frequency Walkie-Talkie Transceivers to overcome the shutdown of telecommunications service in the State, the government has said.
Recall that the State government had in September cut telecommunications networks in 13 local government areas it said are in the front line of banditry in the State.
However, at a press conference yesterday, the Secretary to the Government of Katsina State, Mustapha Inuwa, said the bandits have been unrelenting in circumventing the security measures devised to curb their activities.
“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 petrol from fuel tanks, to ransacking communities and coercing villàges into sourcing petrol 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 revealed.
Inuwa, who is also the chairman of the security committee in the State, said security agents are however on the trail of bandits using walkie-talkies.
He said between March and September this year, 480 suspected bandits were arrested, 42 of whom are under investigation and 216 under prosecution.
