INSECURITY: KADUNA STATE SHUTS DOWN NETWORK COVERAGE IN SOME COMMUNITIES.

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has asked residents to prepare for a shutdown of telecommunication services. In a chat with some radio stations, the governor said security agents are prepared to launch an offensive on bandits taking refuge in some parts of the state.

The governor said the shutdown would not cover the entire state, adding that only local government areas bordering the troubled Zamfara and Katsina states where military onslaught is ongoing will be affected.

El-Rufai, who spoke in Hausa, said due to the shutdown of telecommunication services in Zamfara and Katsina, some bandits crossed over to neighbouring local government areas in Kaduna to make phone calls and demand ransoms but he added that he will not mention the LGAs to be affected but the local governments that are constantly being tormented by bandits know themselves," he said adding that: "As soon as we get the nod from security agents, then the people of Kaduna State should know that we will shutdown telecommunication to give security agents the maximum cooperation to carry out operations in those areas."

El-Rufai also said the state government had established a task force that will go round the hinterlands to monitor compliance on some of the security measures adopted by the state to ensure that fuel stations and markets are closed to further strangulate bandits in the forest. In a press briefing by Samuel Aruwan,

Commissioner, Ministry of Internal

Security of Home Affairs, Kaduna State, Wednesday, 29th September 2021 stated announced that as part of the steps to address the current security situation in

Kaduna State and neighbouring states in the North-West and North-Central regions, KDSG has held several meetings with security agencies to adopt critical measures towards crushing bandits in their identified hideouts.

The military and other security forces have been carrying out assaults on the identified locations. The state government is advised that certain measures are now necessary to assist the spirited efforts of these security agencies.

The following measures become effective from Thursday, 30 September 2021 :

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

2. Ban on possession of or wielding of dangerous weapons.

3. Tricycles are allowed to operate only from 6am to 7pm. All tricycles must remove all curtains. Movement of all tricycles are restricted from dusk till dawn (7PM to 6AM).

All vehicles used for commercial transport must be painted in yellow and black within 30 days. Vehicles that are part of ride hailing services are to carry yellow and black stripes.

4. Ban on the sale of petrol in jerry-cans or other containers in Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Chikun, Igabi, Kachia, Kagarko and Kajuru LGAS.

Other containment measures previously

communicated by the Kaduna State Government remain in place. These include:

Ban on felling of trees and forestry activities in Birnin Gwari, Giwa Igabi, Chikun, Kachia, Kagarko and Kajuru LGAs.

Ban on firewood and charcoal transportation.

Ban on the transportation of livestock into and out of the State.

Cessation of weekly markets in the frontline local government areas of Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Chikun, Igabi, Kajuru and Kawo weekly market of Kaduna North local government.

He added that the Kaduna State

Government regrets the severe strain and inconvenience these measures will place on peaceful and law abiding citizens. The Government therefore appeals for the understanding and cooperation of all residents of the affected areas, and indeed across the State. These difficult times have 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.