Insecurity: Kaduna shuts down telecom services, bans ‘okada’

El-rufai

As part of efforts to address rising insecurity in the state, the Kaduna State Government has banned the use of motorcycles, popularly known as okada, for commercial and personal purposes. The state also announced the shutdown of communication networks in some parts of the state beginning from Wednesday.

The state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said these during a press briefing in Kaduna on Wednesday, three days after bandits killed no fewer than 51 people in the southern part of the state.

Aruwan while addressing newsmen, said, “Recall that Governor Nasir El-Rufai announced in a media chat yesterday (September 28, 2021) that the state government had formally requested the Federal Government to enforce the shutdown of telecom services in parts of the state identified by security agencies as requiring such measures.

“The relevant federal agencies have today informed the Kaduna State Government that the processes for telecoms shutdown in parts of the state have commenced.

“As part of the steps to address the current security situation in Kaduna State and neighbouring states in the North-West and North-Central, the state government has held several meetings with security agencies to adopt critical measures towards crushing bandits in their identified hideouts.

“The military and other security forces have been carrying out assaults on the identified locations. The state government is advised that certain measures are now necessary to assist the spirited efforts of these security agencies.

“The following measures become effective from Thursday, September 30, 2021; the complete ban on the use of motorcycles (okada), for commercial or personal purposes, for three months in the first instance; ban on possession of or wielding of dangerous weapons.

“Tricycles are allowed to operate only from 6 am to 7 pm. All tricycles must remove all curtains. The movement of all tricycles is restricted from dusk till dawn (7 pm to 6 am).

“All vehicles used for commercial transport must be painted yellow and black within 30 days. Vehicles that are part of ride-hailing services are to carry yellow and black stripes.”

Discussing the ban on okada, a politician and social commentator, Fahorunti Olatunde Job, in an interview with our correspondent, said “the move by the Kaduna State Government is highly commendable and proactive. Proactive measures like this can produce the desired results in the long run.