Insecurity: Kaduna shuts down telecommunications, bans ‘okada’

The Kaduna State Government has directed telecommunications companies to suspend their services in the state from September 30, towards checking the activities of bandits.

The State’s Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said this while addressing journalists on Wednesday.

He also said the use of motorcycles for transport services has also been suspended across the state.

Mr Aruwan said the state government has formally requested the Federal Government to enforce the shutdown of telecom services in parts of the state identified by security agencies as requiring such measures.

Mr Aruwan said other security measures earlier announced by the state government remain in place and urged the residents to comply with the directives.

The state government had earlier said it had no plan to shut down telecoms network despite the spike in crimes.

Kaduna joins northern states like Zamfara and Sokoto who have initiated a similar measure to curb banditry and rising insecurity.