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Nigeria: Phone service restored in Boko Haram disturbed area – a sign of improved security
(Reuters) – Nigeria lifted a mobile phone blackout in the Islamist militant disturbed area of Maiduguri on Friday, saying there were signs of improving security after months of blasts and attacks.
Mobile phone signals were disconnected in the remote northeastern town and surrounding states in May in a bid to disrupt the activities of the Islamist Boko Haram sect, whose activities have killed people and disrupted economic activity in the past three years.
The restoration of phone services was “in reaction to the improved security situation and to relax the environment and ease tensions,” said military spokesman Chris Olukolade.
The blackout has also hurt mobile phone companies including South Africa’s MTN, Gulf operator Etisalat and India’s Bharti Airtel who many customers in the area.
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states on May 14, the state of emergency also extended to the phone blackout – and there are signs that the blackout have disrupted terrorist activities attributed to the Boko Haram.
Nigerian forces say their offensive has enabled them to wrest back control of the remote northeast from Boko Haram. They say they have destroyed important bases and arrested hundreds of suspected militants.
However, the situation though improving, remains fragile. Boko Haram – whose name roughly translates as ‘Western education is sinful’ – has attacked at least four schools there over the past month, killings dozens of pupils.
Nigeria plans to withdraw some of of its 1,200-strong contingent from the African Union peace keeping mission in Mali, saying the troops are needed to beef up security at home, sources familiar with the matter say.