Again, Borno cut off GSM services

By Chris Alu & Joy Baba

All the four major telecom operators were either cut off or seized to function as at yesterday till the time of filling this report in Borno state, for reasons not known by the citizens.

The networks operating in the state are Glo. MTN, Airtel and Etisalat which were as at yesterday reading service not available and your call cannot be reached from morning till down.

Alhaji Abbas Ngandu a civil servant in maiduguri told our correspondent through e-mail that the network problem might be connected to the arrival of the chief of Army staff, General Kenneth Minimah who relocated to the state yesterday with the promised of bringing down the dreaded Boko Haram to an end.

Some resident who noticed the sudden disappearance of the network on their phone were shocked because it was unannounced and came as surprise to them unlike the previous one which was announced, they said the operators took them unaware thereby causing a lot of displeasure to them and even cut them off of their business activities of the day.

Ibrahim Ahmed Zanna a trader said he could not make any call from morning till evening and was worried because he lost contact with his loved ones and business partners.

When contacted, the zonal business manager of Airtel, Mrs. Ngosi Stalla said she was not in the picture of network failure in the state but people have being coming to lodge complains to them in their office that they cannot reach out to their love ones in the state.

According to her, the North east zonal office are yet to send them the signal report of the services from there.

Also, James Ukpo Globacom corporate manager in Abuja, denied knowledge of the service failure from the state and said they are yet to receive report on that matter.

Mrs Reuben Mouka, NCC public relations manager said the commission has not received any statement concerning the networks operators in the state.

However, our reporter found out that a lot of people were unable to communicate to each other as at yesterday and that the network failure might be one of the strategies adapted by the chief of Army staff to curtail the activities of the insurgence in Borno state.

Efforts to get the reaction of Army Spokesman, Major General Chris Olukolade on the issue proved abortive.