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Nigeria: Goodluck Jonathan declares emergency in states | Nigeria: Goodluck Jonathan declares emergency in states |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has declared a state of emergency in three states after a spate of deadly attacks by Islamist militant groups. | Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has declared a state of emergency in three states after a spate of deadly attacks by Islamist militant groups. |
He said the military was authorised to take "all necessary action" to "put an end to the impunity of insurgents and terrorists" in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe. | |
Mr Jonathan also ordered more troops to be sent to the north-eastern states. | |
Islamist group Boko Haram has been blamed for most of the violence, killing some 2,000 people since 2010. | Islamist group Boko Haram has been blamed for most of the violence, killing some 2,000 people since 2010. |
Nigeria - a multiethnic nation of more than 160 million people - is also affected by a spate of conflicts over land, religion and oil. | Nigeria - a multiethnic nation of more than 160 million people - is also affected by a spate of conflicts over land, religion and oil. |
In the latest violence, 53 people were killed and 13 villages burnt in central Nigeria's Benue state on Tuesday. | In the latest violence, 53 people were killed and 13 villages burnt in central Nigeria's Benue state on Tuesday. |
The conflict, which started last week, is said to have been caused by a long-running dispute over land ownership between cattle herders and farmers. | The conflict, which started last week, is said to have been caused by a long-running dispute over land ownership between cattle herders and farmers. |
'We will hunt them down' | 'We will hunt them down' |
In a pre-recorded address broadcast on Tuesday, President Jonathan said: "What we are facing is not just militancy or criminality, but a rebellion and insurgency by terrorist groups which pose a very serious threat to national unity and territorial integrity." | In a pre-recorded address broadcast on Tuesday, President Jonathan said: "What we are facing is not just militancy or criminality, but a rebellion and insurgency by terrorist groups which pose a very serious threat to national unity and territorial integrity." |
Referring to recent attacks by "insurgents and terrorists" on government buildings and killings of officials and other civilians, he said that "these actions amount to a declaration of war". | Referring to recent attacks by "insurgents and terrorists" on government buildings and killings of officials and other civilians, he said that "these actions amount to a declaration of war". |
"We will hunt them down, we will fish them out, and we will bring them to justice," the president said. | "We will hunt them down, we will fish them out, and we will bring them to justice," the president said. |
At the same time, he stressed that - despite the state of emergency - politicians in the three states would remain in their posts. | At the same time, he stressed that - despite the state of emergency - politicians in the three states would remain in their posts. |
The president also admitted that the government was not in control of the whole country, the BBC's Will Ross in Lagos reports. | The president also admitted that the government was not in control of the whole country, the BBC's Will Ross in Lagos reports. |
"Already, some northern parts of Borno state have been taken over by groups whose allegiance are to different flags than Nigeria's," Mr Jonathan said. | "Already, some northern parts of Borno state have been taken over by groups whose allegiance are to different flags than Nigeria's," Mr Jonathan said. |
This is not the first time he has declared a state of emergency, our correspondent adds, but this is a clear admission that far from being weakened by the army offensive, the threat of the Islamist militants is growing. | This is not the first time he has declared a state of emergency, our correspondent adds, but this is a clear admission that far from being weakened by the army offensive, the threat of the Islamist militants is growing. |
Last week, Mr Jonathan had to cut short a trip to South Africa to deal with the growing violence. | Last week, Mr Jonathan had to cut short a trip to South Africa to deal with the growing violence. |