By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Katsina Governor Aminu Masari says he is mulling closing telecom services in Funtua, Bakori, and Malumfashi Councils even as the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) denies report that it plans total telecom shut down in the state.
Masari said these are measures to ward off Boko Haram terrorists in addition to his ban last week on the sale of animals and interstate cattle movement and closure of Jibia-Gurbin-Baure road to all motorists to check the Islamist murderers.
He made the latest disclosure when he inaugurated a committee on the monitoring and enforcement of his security challenges order, and announced ban on commercial mobile phone charging points in 19 of the state’s 34 local government areas.
“We believe it’s also an area that is helping the bandits to acquire means of communication,” he said, reported by ThisDay.
Masari acknowledged that the security measures would affect residents economically but said they are necessary to restore normalcy and stop access by jihadists and their collaborators to communication and other means of livelihood.
Said he: “We believe this and other further measures that we are taking with the Federal Ministry of Communication would also help in restoring normalcy to our respective communities.
“Further instructions and directives affecting Funtua, Malumfashi, and Bakori Local Government Areas are coming …. We have to restrict the sale of fuel in these local governments as well. And we are looking at the possibility of curbing further communications in these local governments.
“The security measures taken by the state government might hurt residents economically but it is necessary to take these now to forestall a worse situation if these bandits and their collaborators are allowed free access to communication and other means of livelihood.
“It is important we realise that our number one enemies are informants. So, we must tackle and deal with them in accordance with the law.”
Masari listed the terms of reference of the committee to include monitoring and ensuring compliance of his Containment Order and coordinate enforcement by the three tiers of security structures in the affected councils.
He asked the committee to submit periodic progress reports as well as identify and bring out emerging challenges for government consideration.
NCC denies plan to shut down telecom services in Katsina
The NCC denied a social media report that it had ordered telecom operators to shut down services in Katsina State.
Masari’s Media Director General Abdu Labaran issued a statement quoting NCC Executive Vice Chairman/CEO Umar Danbatta as dismissing the story as false.
“He [Danbatta] added that the purported letter trending on social media was a cloned version of the one sent to Zamfara State,” Labaran said, reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
The NCC had in a recent letter ordered a total shutdown of telecom sites in Zamfara in reaction to escalating security problems.
Labaran said Danbatta advised that suggestion of a similar action in Katsina should be disregarded as it did not emanate from the NCC.
Katsina bans interstate cattle movement to check Fulani herdsmen. Kaduna, Niger ban cattle markets
Last week, Masari also closed Kankara-Sheme road to commercial vehicles. Motorists are advised to use Funtua road as an alternative route, in a notice on “security challenges,” he personally signed.
In neighbouring Kaduna and down in Niger, cattle markets are also banned as part of measures to rein in Fulani herdsmen who murder citizens and occupy their lands because Muhammad Buhari blocks their prosecution and blames victims.
Katsina closed Kankara-Sheme road to commercial vehicles. Motorists are advised to use Funtua road as an alternative route, in a notice on “security challenges” personally signed by Governor Aminu Masari.
Per The PUNCH, Masari suspended the sale of animals at markets in 14 council areas – Jibia, Batsari, Safana, Danmusa, Kankara, Malumfashi, Charanchi, Mai’adua, Kafur, Faskari, Sabuwa, Baure, Dutsin-ma, and Kaita.
Masari also announced that only two stations are allowed to sell fuel worth not more than N5,000 to motorists in 14 councils – Jibia, Batsari, Safana, Danmusa, Kankara, Faskari, Sabuwa, Dandume, Musawa, Matazu, Dutsin-ma, Kurfi, Danja, and Kafur.
He reinforced the ban on the sale of fuel in jerry cans statewide.
The notice restricted the operation of commercial motorcycles and tricycles from 10pm to 6 am in Katsina, and from 6pm to 6am in all frontline council areas.
But essential service workers, including journalists and health personnel, are allowed to use motorcycle and tricycle taxis at any time.
Other directives in the notice include
· Motorcycle taxis should not carry more than one passenger.
· Tricycle taxis should not carry more than three passengers.
· Ban on the sale of secondhand motorcycles at Charanchi market.
· A “ban on transportation of cattle trucks from Katsina State to any state in Nigeria.”
· Ban on lorries/trucks carrying firewood from the bush.
Niger bans cattle markets, sale of fuel in containers
Niger State Governor Abubakar Bello suspended cattle markets across the state in a statement that also banned the sale of fuel products in jerry cans or other containers at filling stations.
“All weekly cattle markets across the state are hereby suspended and any vehicle carrying cattle into the state must show way-bill and evidence of the origin where the cattle were purchased and their destination,” Bello said, per The PUNCH.
“Government suspends the operation of trucks carrying firewood/timber across the state. All motorcycles are only allowed to operate from 6am to 6pm across the state.”
Bello condemned the mayhem and the carnage terrorists are causing in the state and reiterated his determination to rid Niger of any security threat.
Kaduna bans markets, sale of fuel in containers
Kaduna State government suspended weekly markets in five councils of Birnin Gwari, Chikun, Giwa, Igabi, and Kajuru; and banned the sale of petrol within and outside the premises of fuel stations in the councils.
The measures were announced in a statement issued by Internal Security and Home Affairs Commissioner, Samuel Aruwan.
“After a thorough review of the security situation and recommendations put forward by the security agencies, the Kaduna State Government wishes to announce the suspension of all weekly markets in Birnin Gwari, Igabi, Giwa, Chikun and Kajuru local government areas with immediate effect,” he said, quoted by The PUNCH.
“The government has also banned the selling of petrol in jerry cans within and outside the premises of petrol stations in the five local government areas with immediate effect.
“The Kaduna State Security Operations Room remains open for receiving useful information on the following lines: 0903 400 0060, 0817 018 9999.”