Bello Matawalle, the Governor of Zamfara State, on Monday ordered that all telecommunications networks in the state be shut down to check banditry.
The development followed the suspension of weekly markets and other drastic measures in the adjoining troubled North-west and North central states to check activities of bandits in the regions.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had ordered telecom operators to suspend their networks in Zamfara.
Following the development, bandits have reportedly intensified attacks in Zamfara and Katsina, looting foodstuff to stock up while the measures remain in place.
Mr. Matawalle while speaking with DW Hausa Service on Monday said the Chief of Army Staff, Farouk Yahaya, went to Zamfara and led troops into the forests to engage the bandits.
According to him, shutting down of telecoms networks and closing of local markets have started yielding results.
“The bandits are releasing their captives, they are abandoning their motorcycles after running out of fuel. Many of the bandits have been killed by the security forces and the security personnel will sustain the offensive against them until we wipe them out from Zamfara,” Mr. Matawalle said.
The governor also explained that the security forces in collaboration with local vigilantes were taking the fight into the bandits’ enclaves as directed by the army chief.
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