Lawmaker Alleges Bandits Now Use Telecoms Service From Niger Republic.

….calls for provision of Thuraya phone to security agents

Gbolahan Salman Sokoto

A member of Sokoto State house of assembly representing Sabon Birni North, Honourable Aminu Almustapha Gobir popularly called Boza, has alleged that bandits operating in Isa/Sabon Birni axis now use telecommunication service from Niger Republic to contact their victims and coordinate their attacks.

It will be recalled that some affected state governments in collaboration with the federal government as part of measures to check banditry, had shut down telecommunication services in three states of Sokoto, Zamfara and Katsina. This had reportedly cut off communication between bandits and their informants.

But according to the lawmaker,  as a means of circumventing the security measure, bandits have now resorted to using the telecom service of the neighbouring country which shares border with Nigeria through Sokoto.

“This is why I faulted the government for shutting GSM network in the eastern part of the state without a serious military operation taking place there.

“The bandits are now using Nigerien network to communicate within themselves and perpetrate their heinous activities in the area.

“I expect the Sokoto State Governor to provide Divisional Police Officers and the military deployed to Sokoto East with Thuraya phone which could enable them to communicate within themselves and with their superior officers if they need help since there is no GSM network. “This is what the Governor of Zamfara did and it’s paying off positively,” he said