By Abba Auwalu Issa
In Katsina State, telecommunication services have been suspended. At least 13 LGAs are affected by the development.
In Katsina State, telecommunication services have been suspended.
The development has impacted at least 13 Local Government Areas, and it is possible that it is linked to the ongoing security operations against bandits in the North West.
Sabuwa, Faskari, Dandume, Batsari, Danmusa, Kankara, Jibia, Safana, Dutsin-Ma, and Kurfi are the impacted LGAs, which are on the outskirts of the Ruggu forest, where the majority of the bandits hide.
Funtua, Bakori, and Malumfashi are the other three.
Read also: Police Arrests Banditry Suspect on Wanted List in Katsina
This comes after the National Communications Commission (NCC) rejected a move to shut down telecom sites in Katsina a few days ago.
The NCC previously denied a viral social media rumor stating that the commission had ordered telecom service providers in Katsina to shut down their operations.
Director General (Media) Abdu Labaran Malumfashi said in a statement that the NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Professor Umar D. Danbatta, had spoken to the state administration about the subject and that the story was incorrect.
The alleged letter circulating on social media, according to the NCC VC/CEO, was a cloned version of the one delivered to Zamfara State, where all telecom sites have been shut down.
Read also: Banditry: Masari orders shut down of mobile phone charging points in Katsina
To allow security authorities to conduct out needed activities in regard to the pervasive security concerns, the NCC had issued a directive to telecom operators in the neighboring Zamfara State to shut down their services as of September 3rd.