Reno Omokri, Nigeria’s Ambassador-Designate to Mexico, has explained why security agencies often find it easier to track digital criminals than armed bandits operating deep inside forests, following the recent arrest of a suspect accused of cloning President Bola Tinubu’s voice.
Responding to a social media user identified as Oku, Omokri said law enforcement agencies typically rely on digital tracking methods such as triangulation, which use cell phone towers, routers, IP addresses, phone numbers, and social media footprints to locate suspects.
According to him, once security agencies obtain the necessary legal approvals, telecommunications and internet service providers can assist in tracing suspects through their digital activities, making it relatively easy to locate individuals living in cities, towns, and villages.
However, Omokri noted that the situation is significantly different when dealing with bandits who operate in remote forests, deserts, or other isolated environments where there is little or no telecommunications infrastructure.
“Triangulation and other means of narrowing down your location work almost like science in urban and even rural areas. So, it is not difficult to trace people who live in cities, towns, and villages once you have their digital footprints,” he said.
He explained that forests often lack the cell towers, routers, and other infrastructure required for digital tracking, making it difficult for security agencies to locate criminals who deliberately operate in such terrains.
Using Oyo State as an example, Omokri said some forests suspected to harbour cross-border bandits are vast and sparsely connected to communication networks. He specifically referenced Opara Forest, which he described as being comparable in size to Lagos State.
According to him, communities around areas where kidnappings have occurred often experience poor or nonexistent telecommunications coverage, further complicating rescue operations and intelligence gathering.
Omokri added that while drones can assist in surveillance missions, they face limitations in heavily forested environments because thick tree canopies obstruct visibility from above.
He also pointed out that bandits frequently use kidnapped victims as human shields, creating additional risks for security forces even when their locations are identified.
The former presidential aide urged Nigerians to appreciate the operational and geographical challenges faced by security agencies and to support ongoing efforts to combat banditry and terrorism.
His comments came after the Inspector-General of Police’s special team reportedly arrested a suspect accused of creating and circulating a fake audio recording that cloned President Tinubu’s voice, an operation that highlighted the effectiveness of digital forensic investigations in urban environments.
