Mobile telephone networks were shut down in the northwestern Nigerian state of Zamfara, residents said on Monday, after authorities ordered a telecoms blackout to help armed forces tackle armed gangs of kidnappers terrorising the area.

Two residents of Zamfara, reached by phone after they travelled to neighbouring Sokoto State, said their mobile networks had stopped functioning over the weekend. Calls to police and officials inside the state were not going through.

The blackout was “to enable relevant security agencies (to) carry out required activities towards addressing the security challenge in the state”, according to a letter from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to network provider Globacom.

Zamfara has been one of the worst-hit states in a wave of mass abductions of pupils from schools across northwestern Nigeria by armed gangs of ransom seekers operating from remote camps.

A source at the Nigerian air force, asked to comment on media reports that military operations against the gangs were under way, said: “We are clearing these elements fiercely and decisively. It’s a total operation.”

The NCC letter instructed Globacom to suspend phone and internet services to Zamfara from Sept. 3 for an initial two weeks. Reuters could not immediately reach Globacom for comment.

Britain’s Foreign Office updated its Nigeria travel advice, warning about the blackout in Zamfara and saying areas of neighbouring states may also be affected.

In the latest incident in Zamfara, more than 70 pupils were kidnapped from a secondary school in the village of Kaya last week.

One of the Zamfara residents contacted by Reuters, Abubakar Abdullahi Alhasan, said he had heard that a military crackdown had been going on since the mobile networks had stopped working.

“The Nigerian air force and army were succeeding in dislodging some of the bandits’ camps. They killed many and recovered arms and ammunition while many others were arrested,” he said.

Military spokespeople in the capital Abuja were not responding to requests for comment

https://newsscrollngr.com/index.php/component/k2/item/26890-nigerian-air-force-army-clearing-bandit-elements-fiercely-and-decisively-after-phone-blackout-in-zamfara-report

Story story

I hope they know that bandits use satellite phones?
or the idea was to make if impossible for citizens to call for help when bandits attack?
only time will tell.

Everything na audio

Business partners engaging in decisive business transactions....it's well

We know the blackout was arranged to assist the Bandits

Audio Onslaught

Where are the videos and pictures of dead bandits for record purposes? Eternal vigilance is the first step towards are successful security. Southerners must know that the current Nigerian army will never defend them. If they can massacre unarmed youths at Lekki, they can massacre any community in the South just to fulfil the plans and wishes of the fulani controlled federal government. It is our duty as youths all over southern Nigeria to resist anyone including those in uniform who chose to be fulani willing tools of oppression and conquest. Do not fall for their lies on the operation in Zamfara. Remain vigilant and prepare for them. 2022 is less than 4 months from today. Always remember.

Hm

Tales by moonlight.

I hope they didn't shut down telecom networks so that the terr0rists can slaughter indigenes of Zamfara secretly. Maybe, this is a test, to see how it would work if implemented in the South. Otherwise, I don't see how turning off the network is stopping the terr0rists, especially since we are yet to see pictures or videos of neutralized bandits.

"Neutralized" has become a common term for the police in the south... especially when they attack innocent civilians and tag them ESN. I wonder why pictures of "neutralized bandits" has become a problem for them in the north.

xpressionx:
I hope they know that bandits use satellite phones?
or the idea was to make if impossible for citizens to call for help when bandits attack?
only time will tell.

Bro either way some of them are dead people walking.

yet we are yet to see any dead bandit.

after all these onslaughts bandits will still go ahead to mount attacks and abduct school children, abi was boko haram not technically defeated some years back, or was shekeu not killed multiple times before iswap finally deleted him.

nigerian army of liars make una continue to deceive zombs

I'm surprised the bandits communicate via the regular telcos.

Shouldn't this have been an easy job for the NCC and the security agents to nab them.

What do I know self?

Yes

xpressionx:
I hope they know that bandits use satellite phones?
or the idea was to make if impossible for citizens to call for help when bandits attack?
only time will tell.

How did you know?

Are you one of them?
Are you among those that supplies for them?
Are you one of their sponsors?

You go come here dey talk cho cho cho cho

Fejoku:
Where are the videos and pictures of dead bandits for record purposes? Eternal vigilance is the first step towards are successful security. Southerners must know that the current Nigerian army will never defend them. If they can massacre unarmed youths at Lekki, they can massacre any community in the South just to fulfil the plans and wishes of the fulani controlled federal government. It is our duty as youths all over southern Nigeria to resist anyone including those in uniform who chose to be fulani willing tools of oppression and conquest. Do not fall for their lies on the operation in Zamfara. Remain vigilant and prepare for them. 2022 is less than 4 months from today. Always remember.

why don't you board a vehicle to zamfara to confirm yourself. It's because of people like you this country will always be where it is. Don't just sit behind your keypad to spew trash, join the armed forces and make a difference. I'm sure you don't even have a voters card

No be after 2 weeks ? We would see results

Saao:
Story story

Story!!

xpressionx:
I hope they know that bandits use satellite phones?
or the idea was to make if impossible for citizens to call for help when bandits attack?
only time will tell.

the idea is for informant not to communicate with the bandit to avoid ambush by the bandit. You know we do have ambush of security forces after well planned operations

yarimo:
the idea is for informant not to communicate with the bandit to avoid ambush by the bandit. You know we do have ambush of security forces after well planned operations

Why are you people pretending the Zamfara bandits are hiding from anyone...all their camps are in Plain sight and they move around on hundreds of motor bikes without fear

Saao:
Story story

enemy of Nigeria, all you want to hear is bandits down Nigeria airforce fighter jet and many soldiers were killed but God will shame you.
This is not about the issue of apc or pdp if bandit take control of the entire north do you think they won't come and be terrorising us in the south?do you think your ESN can fight real bandit?im not talking about those fulani with dane guns and cutlass o,who will protect you and your family?if bandits unleash their terror on the south do you think south can fight and defeat them?do you think bandits will be looking for ESN camp or any security you might be relying on?no,they will go after your defenseless father,mother,wife and kids and onec it start in the south it won't be easy to stop like north.so I don't know what you stands to gain from this tactical support you are giving terrorist with this senseless comment

We don't need to know step they took in combating bandits. It is called intelligent report.

Security agents must be clearing blackouts and not bandits! Clearing bandits and no pictures nor videos! You guys are playing with fire that will consume the north!

Mossadd:
enemy of Nigeria, all you want to hear is bandits down Nigeria airforce fighter jet and many soldiers were killed but God will shame you.
This is not about the issue of apc or pdp if bandit take control of the entire north do you think they won't come and be terrorising us in the south?do you think your ESN can fight real bandit?im not talking about those fulani with dane guns and cutlass o,who will protect you and your family?if bandits unleash their terror on the south do you think south can fight and defeat them?do you think bandits will be looking for ESN camp or any security you might be relying on?no,they will go after your defenseless father,mother,wife and kids and onec it start in the south it won't be easy to stop like north.so I don't know what you stands to gain from this tactical support you are giving terrorist with this senseless comment

Trash

Complete trash