By Gift Chapi Odekina
The House of Representatives has called on the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to shut down telecommunications services in three local governments in Sokoto over the deteriorating state of security in the areas. The three local governments are Bodinga, Dange-Shuni and Tureta which border Zamfara State.
The House urged the military and other security agencies to reinforce the Forward Operating Bases in Dange-Shuni and Tureta with more personnel to neutralize bandits and other criminal elements in the region.
The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance by the member representing Bodinga/Dange-Shuni/Tureta federal constituency of Sokoto State, Balarabe Kakale, on Thursday.
The motion was on the need to urgently stem the tide of the spiralling insecurity situation and avert further humanitarian crisis in the areas.
Kakale said there has been an increase in the deterioration of the security situation in the three local governments in his constituency in the last few weeks and this had led to the killing of innocent people by bandits in Galma, Dutse, Buolere and Hausare communities in Wababe district between September 1 and 3.
“This was followed by another set of coordinated attacks on the communities of Jibuwal, Fajaldu, Waramu, Bissalam, Illelar Bissalam of Dange district and Tauma of Bodinga district between September 6 and 8, followed by another brazen attack on Lambar Tureta of Tureta local government in the late hours of September 8 to the early morning hours of September 9, resulting in the death of about 10 innocent farmers, traders, students and civil servants,” he said.
Kakale said the three local governments share borders with Bakura, Maradun and Shinkafi local governments in Zamfara State where the heavy onslaught on bandits by the military and recent shutdown of telecoms services among others were forcing them to flee into their communities.
He said due to the influx of bandits and their nefarious activities, more than 100 households with over 500 people had been displaced causing a humanitarian crisis in Sokoto State.
The House called on the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCRMI) and the the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to support and provide relief materials to the victims and displaced persons.
