Insecurity: Kaduna deactivates telecoms services in some LGAs, bans motorcycles

*The Kaduna State has announced it shut down of telecommunications services and banned motorcycle operations for three months to enable the security agencies to launch an offensive against bandits in some parts of the state

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Against the backdrop of incessant banditry with the attendant insecurity of lives and property and social dislocation in the region, the Kaduna State Government has informed the residents that it deactivated telecoms services in some parts of the state.

ConsumerConnect reports Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, who had earlier disclosed this latest development at a media chat with some local radio stations in the state, Tuesday, September 28, 2021, said the shutdown of telecommunications services was informed by security agencies’ plan to launch a massive attack on bandits in some parts of the state.

Mr. Samuel Aruwan, Honourable Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, in Kaduna State, at a media briefing Wednesday evening announced the shutdown of telecommunications services in some Local Government Areas as part of critical measures towards ending banditry.

Aruwan stated the decision was taken after a meeting with relevant Federal agencies, which recommended the shutting down of telecoms services ahead of the commencement of a military onslaught against bandits in the affected areas.

The Commissioner stated: “The relevant federal agencies have today informed the Kaduna State Government that the processes for telecoms shutdown in parts of the state have commenced.

“As part of the steps to address the current security situation in Kaduna State and neighbouring states in the North-West and North-Central, Kaduna State Government has held several meetings with security agencies to adopt critical measures towards crushing bandits in identified hideouts.”

Similarly, Aruwan disclosed the immediate ban of commercial and private motorcycles for a period of three months across the state as well as the regulation of the schedule for commercial tricycle operators from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily.

He said: “The following measures become effective from Thursday, 30th September, 2021.

“The complete ban on the use of motorcycles (okada) for commercial or personal purposes for three months in the first instance.

“Ban on possession of or wielding of dangerous weapons.

“Tricycles are allowed to operate only from 6:00 am to 7:00 pm. All tricycles must remove all curtains. Movement of tricycles is restricted from dusk till dawn.”

Meanwhile, the state government has mandated all commercial tricycles are to remove curtains in their tricycles.

The government said all vehicles used for commercial transportation must be painted in yellow and black within the next 30 days, while vehicles used for hiring services are expected to be painted in yellow and black stripes.

Aruwan said other measures in place include the ban on the sale of petrol in jerry cans, or other containers in Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Chikun, Igabi, Kachia, Kagarko and Kajuru local government areas.

He also stated that the government appealed to residents to endure the severe strain and inconvenience the security measures will place on peaceful and law-abiding citizens, adding that difficult times have demanded that difficult decisions be made.

Aruwan added: “These difficult times demand that difficult decisions be made. The measures have been adopted purely in the interest of our collective safety and security and to aid our brave forces in their fight against these mindless criminals.

“Too many lives have been lost and too many families have been shattered. Small groups of wicked persons cannot continue to hold us to ransom and force us to live in perpetual fear.”