Nigeria bans satellite phones after weekend attacks

ABUJA, Nigeria, June 20 (UPI) -- A Nigerian military official says satellite phones have been banned in the northern state of Borno after the devices were allegedly used to plan recent attacks.

Military spokesman Lt. Col. Sagir Musa said anyone found with a satellite phone or accessories would be arrested, the BBC reported Thursday.

Musa said the phones were used in planning attacks on two schools during the weekend in which at least 16 students and two teachers died.

Signals from mobile phones were already being blocked in Borno state after President Goodluck Jonathan imposed a state of emergency in three states where Boko Haram militants have conducted frequent attacks.

Since 2010, Boko Haram has killed about 1,600 people in northern Nigeria.