Zamfara: Tackling banditry far easier after shutdown of telecoms services ─Commissioner

*The ongoing military onslaught against the marauding bandits is yielding tremendous success, says Ibrahim Dosara, Commissioner for Information, Zamfara State

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

In view of the Federal Government’s recent directive to deactivate the telecoms base stations in the state over the increasing insecurity, the Zamfara State Government has disclosed that the ongoing military onslaught against the marauding bandits is yielding tremendous success.

ConsumerConnect reports Ibrahim Dosara, Honourable Commissioner for Information, in Zamfara State, stated this development Tuesday, September 7, 2021, at a media briefing in the state.

Dosara said: “Zamfara State Government in efforts to ensure the crashing of the bandits has requested for the closing down of all networks in the state and this has been effective.

“The security officials are finding it very easy to deal with the bandits in their enclaves in the forests.”

Some identified camps were destroyed by the Air Force, while the Army is also on the ground to neutralise those who managed to escape through footpaths, said the Commissioner.

According to him, other measures have also been taken, based on credible information and intelligence available to the Nigerian Government.

Dosara further noted: “These include the immediate closure of the following places suspected to be habouring bandits and their collaborators.”

Such places, he stated, include some illegal motor parks and roadside markets, especially those at Kauran Namoda-Jibia road, Lambar Bakura junction, Mayanchi-Anka junction, Garejin Mai Lena, as well as Filin Jirgi rice and vegetables market in Gusau Metropolitan.

Recall that in relation to efforts at tackling the growing insecurity in the state, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had directed telecommunications providers to shut down services.

Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of NCC, said this in a memo to the telecoms firms Friday, September 3, 2021.

The shutdown of telecoms services in Zamfara State lasts for two weeks, according to the regulatory Commission in the country.