Nigerian state shuts down phones, bans motorbikes in bandit crackdown

KADUNA, Nigeria (Reuters) - Authorities in Nigeria's Kaduna State shut down telecoms networks and banned the use of motorcycles on Wednesday as part of a raft of measures to tackle bandit gangs that have caused havoc in the country's northwest for months.

Telecoms blackouts are already in force in neighbouring Zamfara and in parts of several other northwestern states, a tactic aimed at helping the security forces crack down on the gangs by preventing coordination.