ICT specialists say government lacks will, list factors inhibiting surveillance
By OLAMIDE OJUOKAIYE, Lagos and INNOCENT ODOH, , Abuja
For more than 30 days, abducted children and teachers from Yawota in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have been languishing in terrorists’ captivity.
During this period, the terrorists have continued to release footage of their captives in deplorable conditions, with the unfortunate victims and their families trapped in anxiety and uncertainty over their fate while their kidnappers make demands.
The dust raised by the kidnapping of dozens of school pupils and teachers is yet to settle amid rising public apprehension over the increasing incidence of this dastardly behaviour by bandits, who appear brazen enough to film the horrors of their atrocities and broadcast them to the public without fear of retribution.
The grisly scene in which the bandits beheaded one of the teachers abducted alongside the hapless pupils filled the public with horror and indignation, much of which has been directed at governments at all levels, especially the federal government.
The painful pattern is that the bandit-kidnappers abduct victims, keep them in forests and bushes for prolonged periods, and demand ransom from families, friends and the government. They make calls, record videos, and post content on social media platforms while the authorities struggle to track and arrest them.
However, the prolonged captivity of the victims has once again raised questions about Nigeria’s capacity to track criminal groups that routinely use mobile phones, video recordings and digital platforms to negotiate with families and security operatives.
For many Nigerians, the question is simple: if kidnappers are communicating through phones and online platforms, why can they not be tracked and apprehended?
The debate has triggered allegations of weak political will, institutional inefficiency, and possible complicity within sections of the system. It has also reignited concerns about Nigeria’s capacity to use modern surveillance tools to combat organised crime.
ICT experts, telecommunications analysts and security specialists who spoke to LEADERSHIP Sunday said the challenge is less about the absence of technology and more about how intelligence is processed, shared and acted upon.
According to them, while modern systems can generate actionable intelligence, Nigeria’s difficulties stem from poor coordination among agencies, weak operational capacity, difficult terrain, and increasingly sophisticated tactics used by criminal groups.
Hanniel Jafaru, an ICT and cybersecurity expert, said tracking abductors using SIM-based phones is technically possible but often undermined by systemic failures.
“If the bandit-kidnappers are making calls from a regular SIM-based phone, it would be very easy to track them,” he said.
“With SIM-based phones, you can do triangulation and track any SIM anywhere in Nigeria, as long as calls are made via a telecom mast. So, it is possible to track those phones,” he added.
However, he noted that the use of satellite phones would complicate tracking, requiring more advanced capabilities.
He also suggested that lapses in political will may be a factor in the continued difficulty of apprehending perpetrators.
Another ICT expert, who requested anonymity, insisted the problem is not technological but institutional, alleging that authorities may already possess intelligence on criminal locations.
“The problem is not technology. The government knows where the bandits are, but why they cannot be tracked is the question,” he said.
He criticised what he described as weak political commitment, warning that public frustration over insecurity could escalate further.
“It is like cancer that has been allowed to manifest and metastasise to a dangerous level,” he added.
He also referenced past investments in surveillance technology, including a reported $12 million budget in 2014 to monitor WhatsApp communications, questioning whether such systems were effectively deployed.
“The more fundamental issues appear to be governance, coordination, intelligence exploitation, accountability and institutional capacity,” he said.
The chief executive officer of Datamine Tech, Bolanle Olarewaju, said Nigeria may have acquired relevant technology but lacks sufficient deployment capacity and political will, adding that there may also be internal compromise within the system.
A spokesperson for the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Nnenna Ukoha, said the commission’s role is often misunderstood. She explained that the NCC’s responsibility is to provide data and digital intelligence support to security agencies, not to conduct field operations.
The commission maintains that it lacks the mandate for real-time tracking and geolocation enforcement, which fall under the responsibility of the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies.
Jide Awe, chief executive officer of Jidaw Systems Limited and a technology policy adviser, said the issue lies at the intersection of technology and institutional effectiveness.
“Technically, tracking these bandits is a constant race against deliberate evasion,” he said. He explained that criminals frequently use fraudulently registered SIM cards, disposable phones, and short communication windows to evade detection.
Awe noted that modern tools such as signals intelligence systems, IMSI catchers, drone surveillance and telecom geolocation already exist, but their effectiveness depends on coordination and governance structures.
“While advanced signals intelligence, geolocation triangulation, drone surveillance and real-time telecom cooperation can be deployed, the real challenge is ensuring Nigeria’s security architecture is structured to use them effectively,” he said.
He emphasised that inter-agency collaboration is critical. “Security agencies require seamless, real-time information-sharing with telecom operators under a clear legal framework,” he added.
According to him, intelligence alone is insufficient without a rapid response capability. “A well-placed local informant remains extremely important in difficult terrain,” he said, stressing that operational execution is often the weakest link.
Similarly, ICT and telecommunications expert Oladimeji Edun said public expectations often underestimate the complexity of digital investigations.
“When kidnappers call victims’ families or send videos, they leave digital footprints,” he said, noting that telecom operators can provide call records, SIM registration details and cell-tower data.
However, he explained that criminals exploit system weaknesses by frequently changing SIM cards or using stolen identities. “By the time security agencies begin tracking a number, the device may no longer be active,” he said.
Edun also clarified a common misconception: “Network location data is not the same as GPS tracking. A phone can only be located within a cell tower range, which may span several kilometres, especially in rural and forested areas.”
He added that even when locations are narrowed down, operational challenges remain significant due to terrain, logistics, and hostage-safety risks. “A poorly executed rescue could endanger hostages,” he warned.
He identified poor intelligence coordination among agencies as a major constraint, urging real-time collaboration between telecom operators, security services and intelligence units.
Edun further called for investment in artificial intelligence-powered surveillance, drone monitoring, and integrated command systems. He also highlighted the importance of video analysis.
“Videos sent by kidnappers can provide useful clues. Security agencies can analyse metadata, background sounds, vegetation, weather patterns and even shadows to estimate locations,” he said.
Matthew Ibadin, chief executive officer of Badinson Security Services, said intelligence gathering remains essential but insufficient without operational capacity.
“Intelligence gathering remains a critical component of crime prevention,” he said. “However, intelligence alone is not enough. Without equipment, logistics and training, it cannot be translated into action.”
He stressed that community intelligence is equally important, noting that locals often provide information that validates digital tracking data.
Experts broadly agreed that Nigeria requires stronger investment in real-time telecommunications intelligence systems, drone surveillance, anti-kidnapping units and inter-agency coordination.
Edun concluded that while criminals are becoming more technologically adaptive, state response systems remain fragmented. He noted that emerging trends include the use of advanced communication tools, such as satellite internet services, which complicate traditional tracking methods.
