Nigeria risks total internet blackout as Iran’s backed Houthi rebels intensify attacks on underwater communication cables in Red Sea

 

 

Nigerian banks and internet providers are experiencing disruption in their services as Yemen’s Houthi rebels continue their attacks on the Red Sea.

 

Citing officials, the Associated Press on Thursday reported that “three cables” under the Red Sea were cut as Yemen’s Houthi rebels sustained an attack in the area with telecommunications infrastructure under the sea.

 

“Three cables under the Red Sea that provide global internet and telecommunications have been cut as the waterway remains a target of Yemen’s Houthi rebels,” the report said.

 

According to AP, what cut the lines remains unclear.

 

There has been concern about the cables being targeted in the Houthi campaign, which the rebels describe as an effort to pressure Israel to end its war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

 

The Houthi militants have denied attacking the lines, however.

 

“The cut lines include Asia-Africa-Europe 1, the Europe India Gateway, Seacom and TGN-Gulf,” the newspaper quoted Hong Kong-based HGC Global Communications to have said.

 

In Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, internet services have been intermittently disrupted over the past few weeks.

 

However, service providers have yet to explain the cause of the disruption.

 

The disruption is also affecting banking services.

 

“Please be informed that we are experiencing service disruptions due to Internet outage as a result of submarine communication cable cut that is affecting countries along West African coast,” Zenith Bank said in a statement on Thursday.