Telecom blackout in President Buhari’s Katsina as military goes after bandits

Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) have shut down operations in about 13 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Katsina, President Muhammadu Buhari’s own state as security operatives go on the offensive against bandits.

There is already a telecom blackout in neighbouring Zamfara state where security personnel, last week, started a complete cleanup of the entire North West zone.  

RELATED NCC, Telcos Silent Over ‘Shutdown Order’ In Zamfara

In a leaked memo by the National Communications Commission (NCC) to operators, the telecom regulator had ordered MNOs to shut down operations in the North West beginning with Zamfara.

The telecom regulator has kept mom over the memo. But military large scale operations in Zamfara has been supported by complete shutdown of telecom networks.

The 13 LGAs where services no longer exist in Katsina include Batsari, Danmusa,  Malumfashi, Kankara, Jibia, Safana, Funtua, and Bakori. Others are Sabuwa, Faskari, Dandume, Dutsin-Ma and Kurfi – all within the range of the Ruggu forest that’s been a nest for bandits.