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Tag: Emergency rule

  • Senate endorses emergency rule

    Senate endorses emergency rule

    The Senate on Tuesday unanimously endorsed the proclamation of state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States by President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Though there was no debate by Senators, the deal to approve the contentious emergency rule in the three northeast states was sealed at a closed session of the upper chamber that lasted about one hour.

    Senate President, David Mark, announced the decisions Senate reached at the closed session.

    After laying what could be called the background to the proclamation of emergency rule in the states, Mark announced that “at the end of the day, we would like to support the Federal Government in this proclamation of state of emergency in the three states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States.”

    The seeming tension in the Senate gallery evaporated immediately Mark declared the support of the upper chamber for the proclamation.

    He noted that the lawmakers were conscious of the fact that there was lawlessness, anarchy and mayhem in most of the places that were involved in the declaration of state of emergency.

    He also said that they appreciated the fact that government must take every possible step to bring the unfortunate situation to an end as quickly as possible with minimal loss of lives and materials.

    The Senate President noted that 100 Senators out 109 Senators sat and approved the proclamation.

    Mark said, “During the closed session, we extensively discussed some of the issues that we think are very important to this proclamation of state of emergency.

    “We want to emphasize very emphatically that all the democratic structures must be left in place and must be allowed to operate fully and actively and they must also be involved in all the efforts that the federal government is putting up to bring this ugly situation to an end.

    “We also would like to emphasis that the Armed Forces are issued a proper code of conduct where they are humane and benevolent and make sure that all citizens are treated with utmost respect so that they do not lose their respect as human beings.”

     

  • Crackdown on Boko Haram members to continue – Army

    Crackdown on Boko Haram members to continue – Army

    Nigeria’s army has vowed to continue its offensive against militants in the north-east “as long as it takes” to achieve its main objectives.

    The Army Spokesman, Brig. Gen. Chris Olukolade told the BBC the aim was to assert Nigeria’s “territorial integrity as a nation.”

    Earlier, a 24-hour curfew was imposed in parts of the city of Maiduguri, where the military said it had arrested 65 “terrorists.”

    Maiduguri has been an important base for Boko Haram militants.

    Earlier this week, President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe States – after a series of deadly attacks by militant groups.

    He told the BBC World Service Newshour programme that the offensive “knows the targets it is after, and it took a long time to plan and prepare for this.”

    “It is their (insurgent) bases, their weaponry, their logistics that we are going to deal with in this operation,” he added.

    Earlier, an army statement named 12 areas of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, which would now be under permanent curfew.

    BBC says the neighbourhoods listed are considered strongholds of Boko Haram. The whole of Maiduguri was already subject to an overnight curfew.

    Witnesses said troops were stopping lorries from entering the city.

    The army also said the 65 insurgents had been arrested trying to infiltrate Maiduguri. Those held had been “fleeing from various camps now under attack.”

    However, there has been no independent confirmation of the arrests.

     

  • Why FG declared emergency rule in Adamawa – Minister

    Why FG declared emergency rule in Adamawa – Minister

    …Identifies proximity to Cameroon

    .….Emergency to be lifted when normalcy returns

    The Federal Government has given reason for the inclusion of Adamawa State in the proclamation of emergency rule in three northern states in the country.

    The state proximity to Cameroon and the need for the military to have a wide area of coverage was said to be the reason for the inclusion of the state.

    The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olugbenga Ashiru, disclosed this during Friday’s meeting with foreign diplomats in the country.

    The minister, however, assured that the state of emergency would be lifted immediately normalcy returned to the affected states.

    Besides, he said the dialogue committees on peace would continue their work while the military action is also going on as part of multifaceted approach to arresting the situation.

    He also allayed the diplomats’ fears on human right abuse, assuring them that the military would abide with their rules of engagement.

    The minister said the military authorities would make public their rules of engagement in the troubled states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.

    He further stressed that the state of emergency is to protect lives and property and to flush-out the insurgent.

    He, however, said as part of the rule of engagement, the military would first give the insurgent the opportunity to surrender and where this fails, they would employ all military action.

    Ambassador Ashiru assured the diplomats who would want to visit the areas of their safety, saying however that would have to be a protected visit.

    He advised those wishing to visit the areas to get clearance from the ministry and the defence ministry.

     

  • Emergency rule reflects Nigeria’s worsening insecurity – U.S

    Emergency rule reflects Nigeria’s worsening insecurity – U.S

    A state of emergency declared in parts of Nigeria reflects a cycle of violence that’s growing more severe, a U.S. State Department official said.

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States to curb the orgy of violence in the areas.

    Jonathan, in his address said “Islamic militants had taken over parts of Borno and militant action in the Muslim north amounted to a declaration of war.”

    State Department spokesman, Patrick Ventrell, said the United States government was deeply concerned about violence in northern Nigeria, saying its severity was such that it may spill across the borders.

    “The declaration of states of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States reflects the worsening cycle of violence in northern Nigeria,” he said.

    Militants suspected to be from the Boko Haram sect killed more than 40 people in attacks on a village in northern Nigeria last week.

    The United Nations estimates that about 200 people were killed and more than 2,000 houses were destroyed in a recent Nigerian military raid in the north. The raids were allegedly in response to an attack by Boko Haram.

    “We have made clear to the Nigerian government that its heavy-handed response to insecurity in northern Nigeria and the failure to address human rights violations will potentially affect our ability to provide security assistance going forward,” Ventrell said.

     

  • Emergency rule: ACF to monitor military operations in ‘troubled states’

    The Arewa Consultative Forum on Thursday said it would constitute a team that would monitor the conduct of the military in enforcing the state of emergency declared in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States.

    The decision was contained in a statement issued by the ACF Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Fati Ibrahim, after the body’s National Executive Council meeting chaired by Alhaji Aliko Mohammed in Kaduna.

    “The team will collect information and evidence from the field and determine if at all times, the military campaign is conforming with the published terms of engagement and other human rights conventions to which Nigeria is signatory to,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted ACF as saying in the statement.

    “In particular, the ACF calls on the military to avoid the temptation of deploying heavy handed tactics or adopt measures that will cause increased casualties and bloodshed under the cover of emergency rule,” it added.

    The ACF advised the Federal Government not to consider “the increased military deployments as a superior option or alternative to the slower and more tedious path of dialogue, negotiation and reconciliation.”

     

  • Borno governor accepts emergency rule, begs citizens

    Borno governor accepts emergency rule, begs citizens

    The Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, on Wednesday backed the imposition of a state of emergency on the state.

    He begged the citizens of the state to avoid being caught by the strange rules.

    He also warned the military to operate under the rules of engagement so that innocent lives and their properties are jealously preserved and protected.

    Shettima, who made the government’s position known in a state broadcast pleaded with Boko Haram to accept dialogue offer by the Federal Government.

    He said: “Fellow citizens, as you may be aware, the President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, has in exercise of his constitutional powers, declared a State of Emergency in our dear state, following the spate of killings and destructions of properties that have pervaded us.

    “It is the constitutional responsibility of the President to take such measures. It is also the duty of any responsible state government, to support lawful efforts that would guarantee the security of lives and properties.

    “It can never be the wish of any guarded democratic government to have the military directly involved in the affairs of any federating unit except for unfortunate and painful causes.

    “As the military leaders have said in discourses, the armoury of the Nigerian soldiers is not meant to fight fellow Nigerians, the armory is meant to protect fellow Nigerians.

    “A human life is sacred, more so, the life of every good Nigerian, no matter whose’ it is; and we all have moral, spiritual and social obligations to preserve and respect the lives of one another as we would want ours to be so preserved and respected. Allah has said emphatically in the Holy Quran that he has dignified every human being, He has placed high premium on the sacredness of human lives and as His dignified creatures; we should obediently respect the lives of fellow creatures.

    “Let us be our brothers’ keepers, hold our arms in the true Borno spirit that we were hitherto known for, so that we rise together as one people with shared passion for our collective progress.

    “We are facing a trying time that I believe without blind optimism, that we will overcome in no distant time bi iznillah.”

    The governor urged the people of the state to avoid being caught by the strange rules of emergency situation.

     

  • Jonathan orders military patrol of borders

    Jonathan orders military patrol of borders

    President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered the Nigerian Armed Forces to take over the patrol of the nation’s borders.

    The main thrust of the patrol is to track down criminal elements within the vicinity of border communities prone to terrorist activities.

    A statement signed by the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Chris Olukolade, on Wednesday said the patrol team would be made up of the Armed Forces, the police and other security agencies.

    Olukolade added that the troops will also focus on every suspected terrorist enclave and cell in the various border communities.

    The statement reads: “In furtherance of the Commander-in-Chief’s directive, the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police and other security agencies have commenced operations to rid the nation’s border territories of terrorist bases and activities.

    “The operations, which will involve massive deployment of men and resources, are aimed at asserting the nation’s territorial integrity and enhancing the security of constituted governmental structures in all territories within Nigeria’s borders.

    “The operational plans have also briefed participating troops appropriately on arrests, cordon and search especially directed at apprehending those who have been violating sovereignty of Nigeria through terrorist training for insurgency and related activities.

    “The operation is expected to put an end to insurgent activities in these parts of the country.

    The Defence Headquarters said measures have been put in place to ensure the safety of civilians and non-combatants while the operation lasts.

    The authorities of the Armed Forces enjoined communities in the border areas to cooperate with troops and supply necessary information on criminal and terrorist activities.

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  • ACN rejects emergency rule

    ACN rejects emergency rule

    The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has faulted the declaration of a state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States by President Goodluck Jonathan.

    In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the declaration lacked original thinking, and therefore asked the National Assembly to reject it.

    ACN said if the use of force was capable of ending the Boko Haram crisis, it would have ended a long time ago.

    While the President was right in expressing outrage over the mindless killings and wanton destruction by the insurgents, the ACN was wrong in proposing more of the same measures that have failed to yield results.

    ”If the medicine given to a patient has not cured his or her illness, is it not futile to prescribe more of the same medicine for the patient? If the declaration of a state of emergency in 15 local government areas in four states in 2011 has not curbed the activities of the insurgents, why extend such measure to other areas? If the use of force in the affected states have failed to curtail the activities of the insurgents, why send in more troops?

    ”There is nothing new in the President’s action. It is more of the same: deployment of more troops to the affected states and the use of tougher, scorched-earth tactics against the insurgents. In the first instance, this stepped-up militarization of the states amounts to an asymmetric use of force in an environment where the insurgents operate within a civilian population, hence it will ultimately be counterproductive as the death toll will continue to mount while the civilian population – who will be caught in the cross fire – will be alienated.

    ”Secondly, the President should go ahead and disband the committee he recently inaugurated and saddled with reaching out to the insurgents, because by opting to flood the states with more troops under an ill-advised emergency rule, he has succeeded in pulling the carpet from under the Committee’s feet. Who negotiates genuinely with a gun to his head? The committee’s job is over, the members can as well pack up and go home.

    ”Thirdly, one hopes the President’s action is not linked to the politics of 2015. With the three states militarized, there can neither be electioneering campaign nor voting there. We had warned earlier that as 2015 approaches, the Jonathan Administration will increasingly take measures that will make it impossible to hold election in many states The over militarization of some states in the north, the plan to destabilise the South-west using slush funds from the so-called oil pipeline protection contract and the infantile threats from some Niger Delta militants seem to be part of this plan

    ”Fourthly, what happens if and when the declaration of emergency rule fails to stem the violence, now that the President has gone for broke and played his last card?

    ”In view of the reasons stated above, we hereby reject the declaration of emergency rule in the three states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, and we call on the National Assembly to also reject it and not allow itself to be used to rubber stamp a declaration that is largely cosmetic.

    ”We reiterate our earlier statements that the Boko Haram crisis has its roots in years of bad governance that have produced an army of unemployed, unemployable, disenchanted and demoralized youths who are now ready hands and willing tools for those seeking to perpetrate violence. The unprecedented corruption across the land, as well as injustice and extra-judicial killings are also fuelling this crisis,” ACN said.

     

  • Yobe pledges support for emergency rule

    Yobe pledges support for emergency rule

    Yobe State Government on Wednesday said that it would work with the security agencies to restore peace and security following the  emergency rule declared in the state.

    This is contained in a statement signed by Alhaji Abdullahi Bego, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Information.

    President Goodluck Jonathan, in a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, declared a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, following  increased terrorists’ activities, which claimed many lives and  property.

    The statement said: “Yobe Government agrees with President Goodluck Jonathan on the need to take more effective measures to address the problem of insecurity in the country.

    “Yobe Government will continue to work closely with the security agents and will ensure that their conduct reflects the spirit of the emergency declaration by Mr. President and the rules of engagement specified for that purpose.”

    It called on the public to continue with their usual support and cooperation with security agents, “which proved critical in bringing about the relative peace enjoyed in the state in the past months”.

    It also urged members of the public to go about their normal and legitimate businesses and to report suspicious movements in their areas to security agents.

    The state government gave the assurance that it would remain focused and committed to the ongoing task of transforming the state through provision “of the much-needed social services.”

    The News Agency of Nigeria  reports that Damaturu residents are going about their normal businesses.

    They also expressed gratitude to God, the government and the security agencies for the relative peace enjoyed in the state.

    Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said that the beginning of the end of insurgency had begun with President Jonathan’s declaration of state of emergency in the troubled states.

    Reacting to the development, Chief Olatunji Shelle, the Lagos State Chairman of PDP, told NAN that the president’s action displayed absolute wisdom and perfect understanding of the situation.

    He said: “This is superlative and highly commendable outing by the president; all the enemies of Nigeria will be dumbfounded.”

     

  • NBA hails declaration of emergency rule in ‘troubled states’

    NBA hails declaration of emergency rule in ‘troubled states’

    The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on Wednesday described as apt, the declaration of a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States by President Goodluck Jonathan.

    The President of the association, Mr. Okey Wali, told the News Agency of Nigeria in a telephone interview that the decision was a further resolve by the Federal Government to protect the country and its people from further aggression by undesirable elements.

    “We have no doubt that the President has received fresh intelligence that necessitates a harder measure to be taken to forestall further mindless attacks on Nigerians by insurgents.

    “We are indeed satisfied by the decision as it has not eroded the political structure of the three states; suffice to say that democracy is still in place in those areas.

    ”Our candid appeal is for the members of the Boko Haram sect to still leverage on the existing opportunities provided by the Presidential Committee on Amnesty,” the NBA president said.