Telecoms shutdown in northern states: Has banditry stopped?

• As Bandits kill Kaduna House of Assembly Member

By Lillian Okenwa

The people of Kaduna, Sokoto, and some communities in Niger affected by telecommunication network shutdown imposed by their state governments have continued to count their losses.

Governors of the affected states claim that the action is to stem activities of the rampaging bandits but residents insist they have been hit by the flip side of the security measure. Some of the vulnerable locals lament that the attacks had worsened since the blockade of the mobile network, saying that they could no longer make distress calls or receive warning calls to escape impending attacks.

This is even as a member of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Hon. Rilwanu Aminu Gadagau, representing Giwa West Constituency is said to have been shot dead by bandits. The sad news was revealed by a former Kaduna State Senator, Shehu Sani, via his Twitter handle on Wednesday. The former representative of Kaduna Central Senatorial District tweeted:

“Pray for a member of Kaduna State House of Assembly.”

Another tweet from Senator Sani read: “A member of Kaduna State House of Assembly Hon Rilwanu Aminu Gadagau from Giwa LG is reportedly shot and killed by bandits on his way to Kaduna.

“A tragedy a day.Inna lillahi wainna Illayhir rajiun.”

Speaking on the issue of shutting down telecommunication services, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba told Law & Society that “the governor is the Chief Security Officer of his state and can certainly shut down anything in the interest of security but it’s a power that must be properly used.” Agbakoba who said it’s unfortunate the venture has an adverse effect on businesses added: “This is similar to the actions of some US governors’ shutting the state for Covid. It’s tricky. Security vs. economy; like Covid vs. economy.”

Days ago Kaduna based Human Rights Lawyer, Gloria Mabeiam Ballason Esq, sued the Kaduna State Governor, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and 5 telecommunications companies for shutting down telephone services and the internet in Kaduna state. She contends that the action was not backed by law, violated her rights and the rights of affected citizens resident in the State.

Ballason who also alleged that the action of the Kaduna State Governor and the government does not satisfy the constitutional exception of “…any law reasonably justifiable in a democratic society in the interest of defence, public safety, and public order…” said more lives who could not call for help from security agents perished while businesses and means of livelihood of citizens in Kaduna State were grossly affected by the shutdown of telecommunication networks in the state.

She has equally asked the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), an independent national regulatory body established by law, to answer the question of whether it is answerable to the Governor of Kaduna State or bound by the law that governs it.

The matter was filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja on behalf of the fiery lawyer and affected citizens. Ballason said her litigation work, online HOJRADIO/TV, and annual House of Justice Summit & Banquet were greatly affected by the shutdown while Nigerian citizens resident in Kaduna State whose rights have been, is been, or are likely to be violated due to the network shutdown, suffered astronomic loses without a commensurate improvement in the security situation in Kaduna State.

Also included in the suit are: The Attorney General of Kaduna State, Airtel Networks Limited, GlobalCom Limited, Emirates Telecommunication Group Company (Carrying out business in Nigeria under the name and style of Etisalat and now 9mobile), and MTN Group LTD.

This situation calls to mind some of the questions asked by Emmanuel Oladesu in his article, “Kaduna and telecom shutdown.” “Who are the bandits? Are the Nigerians? Are they Northerners? Are they foreigners taking advantage of porous borders? Their identities cannot be ascertained. The motivation for their onslaught is unknown. They use sophisticated weapons. But, their sources of funding are in the realm of conjecture. While the government claimed that it has uncovered those behind Nnamdi Kanu of IPOB and Sunday Adeyemo Igboho, it is yet to unravel those behind the tormentors of Northern Nigeria; the visible and invisible Boko Haram and other lords of banditry.”

Many Nigerians are asking the same questions.