Nigerian GSM Service Providers Threaten to Withdraw it's Services from the North

Due to the series of attacks on the installations of GSM service providers and some other telecommunications service providers in the north over the past few days, the umbrella body of the telecommunication operators, the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria
(ALTON) on Thursday said its members MTN,
GLO, Airtel and Etisalat will cut off services from the North.
According to ALTON, the number of base stations vandalized in the north so far has been put at 26.
Yet another base station belonging to an
indigenous telecoms infrastructure company ( IHS Nigeria) was bombed in Kano on Thursday, barely 24 hours after the attack on several base stations in Borno, Yobe, Bauchi and Gombe states.
According to the ALTON president, Gbenga
Adebayo, an emergency meeting of the
association’s executives had been called for today (Friday) to decide on what next to do. He says, “If i† becomes impossible to continue to do business in the face of rising attacks on telecoms sites, operators will naturally suspend operations in the area… This is because beyond base stations, these elements may begin to target telecoms operators‘ offices and data centers among other key
infrastructure. That is why it is important that the situation is curtailed before it gets to that point.” Meanwhile, JTF in Borno State yesterday said terrorists’ attacks on telecom masts were designed to “disrupt” communication services and prevent residents from providing information on the activities of gunmen to the military and the police so that they can protect life and property.