- Youths awaiting Buhari heckle Jega’s convoy •At Emir of Kazaure’s daughter wedding
- Jos house raid: Security forces uncover bomb factory •Recover deadly weapons
- Forget presidency in 2015, AYF tells Northern govs
- Power supply: NASS’ joint committee orders suspension of badly-done projects in Rivers
- JTF smashes oil theft syndicate •Impounds 36,000 litre tanker, 26 surface tanks, 300 drums of diesel
- Sambo urges Boko Haram to dialogue with FG
- Rep, PDP leaders berate LG boss over workers’ sack
- OOU’s new Pro-Chancellor cautions on strikes, extends olive branch
- Oshiomhole condemns politics of ethnicity
- Proposed FRSC scrapping: Govt lacks sense of history —Agunloye
- .Cleric expresses concern over state of the nation
- Oyo PDP crisis: Senator Balogun carpets former SUBEB chair
Boko Haram: Jonathan declares state of emergency in 15 LGAs •Closes land borders
Written by Leon Usigbe, Abuja Sunday, 01 January 2012
PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan bared his fangs on Saturday in a renewed effort to tackle the menace
of the Islamic religious sect, Boko Haram, by imposing a state of emergency on 15 local government areas spread across four states of the federation.
They are: Borno State;
a) Maidugiri Metropolitan LGA
b) Gamboru Ngala LGA
c) Banki Bama LGA
d) Biu LGA
e) Jere LGA
(ii) Yobe State
a) Damaturu LGA
b) Geidam LGA
c) Potiskum LGA
d) Buniyadi-Gujba LGA
e) Gasua-Bade LGA
(iii) Plateau State
a) Jos North LGA
b) Jos South LGA
c) Barkin-Ladi LGA
d) Riyom LGA
(iv) Niger State
a) Suleja LGA
While making the proclamation in a nationwide broadcast, he also directed that land borders in the affected areas be closed as they had provided unfettered access to criminals moving in and out of the country.
Similarly, he directed that a special unit be established in the Army dedicated to the fight against terrorism.
Rationalising the measures, the president stated that they had become necessary because of the threat posed by the Boko Haram sect to the corporate existence of Nigeria.
He 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.
“Government in an effort to find a lasting solution to the security threats occasioned by the activities of the Boko Haram sect, constituted a Presidential Comm- ittee under the Chairmanship of Ambassador Usman Gaji Galtimari, to ascertain the immediate and remote causes of the crises. While efforts are being made to implement the recommendations of the Committee, the crises have assumed a terrorist dimension with vital institutions of government including the United Nations Building and places of worship becoming targets of terrorist attacks.
“While the search for lasting solutions is ongoing, it has become imperative to take some decisive measures necessary to restore normalcy in the country especially within the affected communities. Consequently, 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.”
Jonathan announced that the details of this proclamation would be transmitted to the National Assembly as soon as they reconvened from their current recess, for their necessary action.
Furthermore, he stated: “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 parts of the country. I therefore urge the political leadership in the affected states and Local Government Areas to give maximum cooperation to the law enforcement agencies deployed to their respective communities to ensure that the situation is brought under control within the shortest possible time.
“The Chief of Defence Staff, in collaboration with other Service Chiefs, has also been directed to set up a special force unit within the Armed Forces, with dedicated counter terrorism responsibilities.
“As part of the overall strategy to overcome the current security challenges, I have directed the closure of the land borders contiguous to the affected Local Government Areas so as to control incidences of cross border 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 added.
The President appealed to neighbouring countries to bear with the government of Nigeria as the border closure would be temporary.
“Let me assure our neighbours, especially within the ECOWAS sub-region, of Nigeria’s commitment to its international obligations as provided by the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons. The temporary closure of our borders in the affected areas is only an interim measure designed to address the current security challenges and will be reviewed as soon as normalcy is restored,” he remarked.
Jonathan commended the efforts of political leaders at various levels as well as the traditional and religious leaders for their support for the various conflict resolution mechanisms and peace building measures that have been initiated by his administration.
He called on the citizenry to continue to provide useful information to law enforcement agencies to enable them arrest the situation, saying “terrorism is a war against all of us.”
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News headlines
- Youths awaiting Buhari heckle Jega’s convoy •At Emir of Kazaure’s daughter wedding
- Jos house raid: Security forces uncover bomb factory •Recover deadly weapons
- Forget presidency in 2015, AYF tells Northern govs
- Power supply: NASS’ joint committee orders suspension of badly-done projects in Rivers
- JTF smashes oil theft syndicate •Impounds 36,000 litre tanker, 26 surface tanks, 300 drums of diesel
- Sambo urges Boko Haram to dialogue with FG
- Rep, PDP leaders berate LG boss over workers’ sack
- OOU’s new Pro-Chancellor cautions on strikes, extends olive branch
- Oshiomhole condemns politics of ethnicity
- Proposed FRSC scrapping: Govt lacks sense of history —Agunloye
SINCE THE ATTACK ON THE ST THERESAS CHATOLIC CHURCH MADALA,AS WELL AS OTHER NOTABLE TERRORIST ATTACKS AT ABUJA,MAIDUGURI,DAMATURU,JOS TO MENTION JUST A FEW IN THE NORTHER PART OF NIGERIA,IT IS HIGH TIME FOR PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN TO PERSONALLY FOR A REVOLUTIONAL GUARD THAT WILL FIGHT BOKO HARAM TO A STANDSTILL AND WIPE THEM OFF FROM NIGERIA COMPLETELY BEFORE BOKO HARAM DESTROY PRESIDENT JONATHANS GOVERNMENT AND NIGERIA.
THE REVOLUTIONARY GUARDS MUST BE SET UP QUICKLY INORDER TO BE POSTED TO ALL THE FLASH POINTS WHERE BOKO HARAM OPERATES.
THE REVOLUTIONARY GUARDS WILL USE SNIPERS AMONGST OTHER WEAPONS TO FIGHT THESE CAWORDS BECAUSE OF BOKO HARAMS PRAWL IN URBAN CENTRES IN NORTHERN NIGERIA .
THE REVOLUTIONAL GUARADS MUST HAVE ABSOLUTE LOYALTY TO THE PRESIDENT AND MUST BE DRAWN FROM PEOPLE WHO DOES NOT SYMPATISE WITH BOKO HARAM.
THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO WIPE OUT THIS TERRORIST GROUP FROM NIGERIA.
THE BOARDERS OF NIGER,CHAD,CAMEROON ETC WITH NIGERIA WILL REMAIN CLOSED ONCE THE REVOLUTIONAL GUARADS MOVE INTO OPERATION SO THAT SOME OF THE BOKO HARAM BOYS DO NOT FLEE FROM NIGERIA TO THESE NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES WHEN THIS CROSSFIRE FROM THE REVOLUTIONARY GUARDS TURNS THEIR HEAT ON THEM.