Boko haram crisis Jonathan Declares State Of Emergency In 4 States

As a way of tackling the security challenge posed by the activities of the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunnah Lidda’awati Wal Jihad popularly called Boko Haram President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday declared state of emergency in 15 crisis-prone local government areas in four states of the federation. This action, Jonathan said is in the exercise of the powers […]

As a way of tackling the security challenge posed by the activities of the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunnah Lidda’awati Wal Jihad popularly called Boko Haram President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday declared state of emergency in 15 crisis-prone local government areas in four states of the federation.

This action, Jonathan said is in the exercise of the powers conferred on him by the provisions of Section 305(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic Nigeria to restore normalcy in the country.

The states and the local government areas affected are: Borno State: Maidugiri Metropolitan LGA, Gamboru Ngala LGA, Banki Bama LGA, Biu LGA and Jere LGA;  Yobe State: Damaturu LGA, Geidam LGA, Potiskum LGA, Buniyadi-Gujba LGA and Gasua-Bade LGA; Plateau State: Jos North LGA, Jos South LGA, Barkin-Ladi LGA and Riyom LGA;   and Niger State: Suleja LGA.

Following this development, the Chief of Defence Staff, in collaboration with other Service Chiefs, will set up a special force unit within the Armed Forces, with dedicated counter-terrorism responsibilities to work in the affected local government areas.

Similarly, the Chief of Defence Staff and the Inspector-General of Police have been directed to put appropriate measures in place to ensure the protection of lives and properties of residents in the affected places.

The president urged the governors, local council chairmen and all the political leaders in the affected states and local Government Areas to give maximum cooperation to the law enforcement agencies deployed to their areas so that order is restored.

To forestall cross border movement of criminals, Jonathan said, “I have directed the closure of the land borders contiguous to the affected Local Government Areas so as to control incidents of cross boarder terrorist activities as terrorists have taken advantage of the present situation to strike at targets in Nigeria and retreat beyond the reach of our law enforcement personnel.”

He however assured Nigeria’s neighbours, especially those “within the ECOWAS sub-region, of Nigeria’s commitment to its international obligations as provided by the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons,” promising that the borders will be opened as soon as normalcy is restored.

In the 10-paragragh speech entitled “Address by His Excellency, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, on the Occasion of the Declaration of a State of Emergency in Certain Parts of the Federation in Order to Restore Public Order, Peace and Security in the Federation, December 31, 2011,” Jonathan said, “You are all aware of the security challenges which the activities of the Boko Haram sect have foisted on the country. What began as sectarian crises in the North Eastern parts of the country has gradually evolved into terrorist activities in different parts of the country with attendant negative consequences on our national security.”

He lamented that while government was making efforts to implement the recommendations of the Presidential Committee on the crises, they “assumed a terrorist dimension with vital institutions of government including the United Nations Building and places of worship becoming targets of terrorist attacks.” According to Jonathan, terror is war against every body. He called on Nigerians to join hands with government to fight the terrorists.

“The details of this proclamation will be transmitted to the National Assembly as soon as they reconvene from their current recess, for their necessary action,” Jonathan stated.

For Plateau State, this is not the first time. In 2004, then President Olusegun Obasanjo sent Governor Joshua Dariye out of the Rayfield Government House for his (Dariye’s) inability to end sectarian crises in the Home of Peace and Tourism.