Residents hold prayer sessions over continuous security challenges in Zamfara state

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Residents of Zamfara State on Sunday gathered to pray for God’s intervention over the continuous bandit attacks, killings and abductions in the state.

They have also urged the Federal Government to provide adequate equipment for security personnel fighting the war against banditry and other crimes in the state.

This is coming amidst series of attacks and abductions for ransoms with the most recent being the abduction of 73 students of the Government Day Secondary School in Kaya in Maradun Local Government Area.

According to reports, the assailants had invaded the school on September 1 in a large number and left with the students to an undisclosed location.

The incident was the third attack on schools in Zamfara this year – coming after that of Jangebe and Bakura.

A total of 317 students were abducted from the Government Girls Science Secondary School in Jangebe during an attack in February, six months before bandits kidnapped at least 20 persons comprising students and officials from the College of Agriculture and Animal Science, Bakura.

Since the recent incidents, the government has had to take more stringent measures such as the shutting down of telecoms services.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on September 3 directed telecommunications providers in the state to shut down their services.

“The pervading security situation in Zamfara has necessitated an immediate shutdown of all telecommunications services in the state from today, September 3, 2021. This is to enable relevant security agencies to carry out the required activities towards addressing the security challenge in the state,” a memo signed by the vice-chairman of the NCC, Professor Umar Danbatta, said.