Nigeria declares state of emergency in northern states
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Xinhua, January 1, 2012
Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency on Saturday in four northern states which were hit by months of violence by the Islamic sect in the country.
The Nigerian leader made this known following the insurgency of the militant Islamic sect known as Boko Haram recently.
The announcement was made by the president at 4 p.m. local time.
"I have in the exercise of the powers conferred on me by the provisions of section 305(1) of the Constitution, declared a state of emergency in the following parts of the federation, namely Borno State, Yobe State, Plateau State and Niger State," the Nigerian leader declared. President Jonathan had visited St. Theresa Catholic Church, Madalla in Niger State, where a big bomb on Charismas Day killed over 40 Christians, including passersby.
The Islamic insurgent group, Boko Haram claimed responsibility, promising to attack more church targets.
The president's announcement and visit came a week after the tragedy,and worldwide condemnation of the attack.
The group has launched several attacks on government symbols in northern Nigeria as part of its campaign to get what it calls "Western Education is sin."
Boko Haram launched the first attack in Maiduguri in July 2009, during which many were killed and wounded with property destroyed. The sect's leader known as Yusuf and his alleged financier Buji Foi were killed in a counter-attack by the security operative.
Maiduguri has been hit by almost daily bomb blasts, shootings and serial killings in recent months blamed on Boko Haram, which surfaced in 2009.
More than 800 people including security personnel have been killed in violence linked to suspected Boko Haram militants.
The frequent spate of bomb blast attacks especially on innocent souls in the country is worrisome, partly for its reflection of the dastard state of insecurity in the land.
The Nigerian president said 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.
According to him, the Chief of Defense 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 parts of the country.
He also directed the closure of the land borders contiguous to the affected local government areas so as to control incidences 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 the nation's law enforcement personnel.
"Terrorism is a war against all of us. I call on all Nigerians to join hands with government to fight these terrorists," he said.
Shortly after he inspected the Christmas day bombs explosion site, president Jonathan pledged that there would be no hiding place for sponsors of members of the terrorist group, which had claimed responsibilities for a number of terror attacks in the country.
According to him, his government had reviewed the activities of the group and would begin implementing new measures to contain their activities.
Specifically, the Nigerian leader said he would take some decisive measures in some places in the country that were notorious with Boko Haram attacks including Suleja Local Government Area in Niger State.
" We'll begin from tonight take some different measures, different approach to fighting 'Boko Haram' and we must weed them out of our society, but Suleja is a particular local government that is becoming very notorious in terms of terrorism," he added.
"All the terrorist attacks in Niger State had taken place in Suleja. Luckily the chairman of council is here, I am going to turn this local government upside down. If there are institutions here that are harbouring criminality we are going to deal with it decisively," he said.
"Niger State is a very big state and any terrorist attack is in Suleja, so my belief is that there are some institutions or individuals in Suleja that are harbouring terrorists and we'll deal with it decisively," he told reporters.
"And any part of this country, any individual or group of individuals, whether traditional institutions or religious institutions associated with terrorists will be dealt with decisively. There will be no sacred cows," he said.
The president promised that he would give the nation details on how he planned to contain the group.
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