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As security challenges continued to assume a different dimension across the country, indications have emerged that Zamfara State Government has raised the alarm that the bandits have taken the advantage of the availability of the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) network to coordinate their attacks.
Although, neither the federal government or the state government has formally reacted over the report of shutting down the network in the state over insecurity, sources in the telecommunication service providers and the state government revealed that move was to frustrate the communication strategies of the bandits, who have threatened the security of lives and property of the residents in the state.
It was learnt that the state Governor, Bello Mutawalle had written a letter to the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Pantami on the development, describing the option of network shutdown as part of the measures taken to address the growinf insecurity in the state, adding that the criminal elements and their informants rely on the network to communicate on the nefarious operations.
According to a source in the Zamfara State House, the governor, in the letter, also said that virtually all military tactics were said to have been frustrated by some suspected informants using mobile phones to communicate with the bandicts on the security agents’ movement. The source noted that at the Zamfara State government is fully in support of the temporary shutdown of telecommunications network in the state by the Nigerian Communication Commissions.
TheStory authoritatively learnt that the state Governor, Bello Matawalle and the state security council resolved to the shutting of the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) network as one of the far-reaching measures to tackle the rising security challenges and the menace of bandicts in the state, saying that the move would halt the seamless communication network of the bandicts and their informants, who the state government, said had frustrated all her efforts at dealing with the menace.
Sources in Zamfara Government House, who pleaded anonymity, told TheStory that Governor Matawalle, who had vowed that his administration, right from day one, decided to tackle the challenge head-on by exploring all available and workable options. He added that shutting down of the network is parts of of the efforts to frustrate bandictry and other crimes in the state.
It was learnt that Governor Mutawalle was worried with the situation, which turned for the worst in recent months, with the recalcitrant bandits having a field day in virtually all parts of the State. This was even as virtually all military tactics were said to have been frustrated by some suspected informants using mobile phones to communicate with the bandicts on the security agents’ movement.
Subsequently, the Zamfara State Security Council resolved that extra measures for public safety and strengthening the battle against banditry in the State should be taken. Hence, a task force was set up to ensure that the new measures are enforced.
“The Council noted that one of the biggest hurdles to combating banditry is the issue of informers who use mobile networks to communicate with bandits about the movements of troops, ” the souce said.
Meanwhile, the development is expected to generate reactions from Nigerians as many subscribers are like to be caught unawares while the effect is unimaginable on the socio-economic life of the people of the state and beyond.
