Reactions have started trailing the shut down of telecommunication network services in Zamfara State by the Nigerian Communication Commission, NCC, aimed at tackling the activities of bandits’ informants and flushing out criminal elements in the state.
Some residents of Gusau, the state capital, described the step taken as a welcome development since it is meant to bring to an end to the insecurity and to restore peace in Zamfara State.
Zamfara State, Northwest Nigeria, has been suffering from the activities of bandits who kill, maim, abduct innocent citizens for ransom, and have been rustling cattle for over a decade.
Though several efforts and measures have been put in place by successive governments to eliminate the bandits and their collaborators, it has not yielded any positive result.
This probably explained the shutting down of all telecommunication network services in the state.
Also, given the fact that bandits’ informants have been identified as one of the major factors responsible for the escalation of the banditry activities, cattle rustling, and abduction of innocent people in the state.
With the shutting down of all telecommunication network services in Zamfara State by the NCC, the residents believe that the measure will help a great deal to curb the activities of bandits’ informants, who usually provide the criminals with information about their targets.
Some of the residents, who make a living through the telecommunication network services, said though it will not be easy for them to cope with the measure imposed, given that they have to rely on their little savings to fend for their families, pending when the networks will be restored, after the two weeks of the exercise.
They said they are in support of the measure to rid the state of insecurity so that citizens can go about their businesses without entertaining any fear of being harmed by the bandits.
The development is having a toll on the residents of Zamfara State especially those who sell recharge cards, phones, phone accessories, cyber cafe operators, POS, and even banking services in the state.