Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has said communication lines will be disrupted to launch an offensive against militants hiding in some local government areas.

El-Rufai in a chat with BBC Hausa service said security agents are prepared to launch an offensive on bandits taking refuge in some parts of the state.

He said, “We have been advised by the military and other security agencies to shut down telecommunication services in certain LGAs but we are waiting for the security agencies to tell us which specific areas and when.

“But I want the people of Kaduna State to know that if they give us the go-ahead tomorrow [Wednesday], we will shut down tomorrow.

“There is no doubt that bandits and other criminals rely on telecommunication to communicate with their informants as well as with relatives of kidnapped victims so as to demand ransom.”

El-Rufai said the cuts would not affect the entire state, but some parts of the state such as local government areas bordering Zamfara and Katsina would be cut off.

The governor said he had already written to the Federal Government on the shutdown which he said had been approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.

“I will not mention the LGAs to be affected but the local governments that are constantly being tormented by bandits know themselves,” he said.