Sokoto shuts down telcom services in 14 LGAs

The Sokoto State Government has asked all telecommunications companies to shut down their services in 14 local governments in the state.

The House of Representatives had last week demanded the shutdown of telecommunication services in three LGAs of Sokoto.

The state government in a circular asked Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, to issue a temporary shutdown of telecommunication networks in some LGAs as a measure to bring an end to banditry and other criminal activities in the state.

Muhammad Bello, spokesperson for the state governor, Aminu Tambuwal, On Monday, said the disruption in the telecommunication network will enable security agencies to deal with the increasing rate of insecurity in the state.

Bello said, “In any case, the state governor has requested the minister for communication and digital economy to block services of communication providers in 14 local governments in the state; thirteen of them in the eastern flank where the insurgency is high; one of them in the southern flank which is also bordering Zamfara State.

“As of this afternoon when the blockade began, it affected Sokoto metropolis which includes Sokoto South and North LGAs which are not on the list that was submitted to the NCC. I think it could be a technical hitch that if rectified will exclude the Sokoto metropolis. That is the situation now.”

The government stated that some bandits had migrated to Sokoto from neighbouring north-western states where they have been facing military actions.

Earlier in the month, the NCC had instructed all telecommunication companies to shut down their services in Zamfara over lingering insecurity in the state.