Sokoto State Government has shut down telecommunications networks in 14 Local Government Areas of the state.
Gatekeepers News reports that the Sokoto State Government in collaboration with the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy has shut down telecommunications networks in 14 of the 23 Local Government Areas of the state.
Muhammad Bello, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Governor Aminu Tambuwal, disclosed in a statement on Monday.
Bello said, “About three weeks after it approved an Executive Order in response to the situation of insecurity in the eastern flank of Sokoto State, Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, on Monday disclosed the state’s collaboration with the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy to block services of communications operations in 14 local government areas of the state.”
The LGAs affected by the Executive Order are Gada, Goronyo, Gudu, Ilela, Isa, Kebbe, Sabon Birni, Shagari, Rabah, Tambuwal, Tangaza, Tureta, Wurno, and Dange Shuni.
Bello stated that the Security Challenges (Containment) Order approved on September 1 initially affected 13 LGAs.
According to him, the order led to the closure of some roads to motorists, suspension of animal trades, prohibition of transportation of cattle, as well as transportation of more than three persons on motorcycles and tricycles, among others.
He added that “these local government areas, Dange Shuni local government area will also be affected by the latest communications blockade, bringing the number of LGAs affected to 14.”
The Governor’s Spokesman wrote, “As of this afternoon when the blockade began, it affected Sokoto metropolis which includes Sokoto south and north LGAs which are not in the list that was submitted to NCC. I think it could be a technical hitch that if rectified will exclude the Sokoto metropolis. That is the situation now.”
He noted that some terrorists have migrated to Sokoto from neighbouring north-western states where they have been facing military actions.
On Sunday, terrorists attacked and killed six locals in Saminaka – a village located along the Bale-Tangaza Road in Tangaza, one of the LGAs affected by the Executive Order.
Earlier in the month, Gatekeepers News reported that the NCC instructed all telecommunication companies to shut down their services in Zamfara over insecurity issues in the state.
