The source said that militants, who were dislodged from Sambisa Game Reserve and other camps in Borno, had sought refuge in the Adamawa forests, especially in the Zumo area of Song Local Government Area.

He also said that the sect members had been sighted in the forests of Maiha and Fufore local government areas of the state.

“Most of the Boko Haram members who are running away from the military operations in Borno are moving into Adamawa State. They are regrouping in Zumo area of Song Local Government Area. Some are in Fufore and Maha local government areas. This particular area has a combination of mountains, rocks and bushes that extend to Cameroon,” he said.

Our correspondents learnt that the sect members mingled with civilians when they were escaping from Borno to Adamawa State.

Adamawa has a complex topography comprising mountains, rocks and thick forests that extend into the nation’s border with Cameroon.

It is a mountainous land crossed by the large river valleys – Benue, Gongola and Yedsarem. The valleys of Cameroon, Mandara and Adamawa mountains form part of the landscape.

The source, who spoke with The PUNCH, on condition that he would not be named, said that the focus of the Defence authorities that are coordinating the fight against the militants would change in the next few days from Northern Borno to Adamawa State.

He further stated that the influx of suspected insurgents into Adamawa explained the decision of the Defence Headquarters to deploy additional 1,000 troops in the state in preparation for a similar military operation in the area.

The source said, “This might be the reason behind the decision of the Defence Headquarters to deploy additional 1,000 soldiers in the state.

“The attention of the Defence authorities and the Special Forces deployed to flush out suspected Islamic militants in the North- Eastern part of the country may shift from Borno where some of the earliest battles have been fought to Adamawa State.”

Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters on Monday said that 120 terrorists were arrested in Maiduguri, capital of Borno State, during the burial of a commander of the insurgents.

The military spokesman, Brig.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, who disclosed this in a statement in Abuja, said the sect commander died during an encounter with the Special Task Forces.

“In Maiduguri, about 120 terrorists were arrested as they organised the burial of one of their commanders who died in an encounter with the Special Forces the previous day. The arrested insurgents are in custody of the Joint Task Force where they are being interrogated,” Olukolade said.

He said the Special Forces had secured the environs of New Marte, Hausari, Krenoa, Wulgo and ChikunNgulalo in Borno State after destroying all the terrorists’ camps in the areas.

He said, “The troops are already interacting with locals and citizens, assuring them of their safety and freedom from the activities of insurgents.

“Terrorists fleeing towards Chad and Niger Republic are being contained as they have had encounters with Multi-National Joint Task Force in various locations towards the border.

“Advancing troops also observed a few shallow graves believed to be those of hurriedly buried members of the terrorist group.”

Olukolade also said that Defence Headquarters had observed the use of photographs purportedly taken in the areas covered by the operations.

The defence spokesman said the photographs were questionable as they did not reflect any related reality of the social or geographical environment.

He added, “This also makes the story they claim to depict of Nigerians fleeing to Niger Republic and other countries doubtful. The media are advised to always strive to associate stories with accurate pictures in order to avoid misleading the public.”

Also on Monday, the Defence Headquarters assured civilians of cordial relationship in its ongoing war against terrorism.

Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim, assured civilians of cordial relationship during a three-day seminar organised in conjunction with the United States.

The seminar was meant to compose a strategy for strengthening civil-military relations and counter-terror strategy.

On his part, the Director of Civil-Military Relations, Maj.-Gen. Mohammed Ibrahim, said, “There were a lot of misconceptions on military operations. We are going to clear the misconceptions and assure people that the military is theirs and working to protect them.”

At the Monday ceremony, the Director General of National Orientation Agency, Mike Omeri, said that recent events in the country showed the need for increasing civil-military relations in combating threats to the country’s territorial integrity.

“As profound and skilful as our military intelligence is, it could be greatly impaired if the civilian populace do not cooperate with it,” he said.

Omeri also urged the directorate of civil-military relations to set up a centre for proactive management of information specific to Joint Task Force operations around the country.

-Punch

Why does the ACF think the state of emergency in the northern states might not work?

The state of emergency might not work because of our past experiences when state of emergency was applied in Plateau State, and later in some local government areas in the North-East that never worked.

Moreover, what happened in Baga was actually the use of force, which did not go down well with many Nigerians and the international community because they thought excessive use of force tends to inspire more extremism than solve the problems of insurgency. ACF thinks that since state of emergency amounts to mere increase in the use of force, it may not work concurrently with dialogue. The forum prefers that the committee in place be given a chance by both governments and Nigerians.

But many believe military intervention is the best solution to the recurrent terrorists’ attacks in those areas?

Those who believe military option can work are too quick to forget the fact that military was used in 2009 and 700 members including the leader of the sect were killed. Yet, the sect has remained unbowed.

They also forget the experiences of Baga and the controversy that has come with it. But since the government, which has more facts than those of us in the ring side, believes the fight against terrorism is multidimensional and has gone ahead to declare state of emergency amid dialogue, I think Nigerians have no choice but to support government’s efforts to succeed in both the state of emergency and the dialogue that now exist side by side. This is more so, if it is true that the sect has overrun some local government areas in those states, thereby making the situation a conventional conflict with the state. This may be easier to confront formally by the authority.

Do you see abuse of human rights by military personnel during their operations in the states?

There are rules of engagements for all military interventions across the globe. Nigeria cannot be an exception to the rules of the game, considering the recent outcry against the manner force was applied in Baga. I believe the military is too intelligent not to know the negative effects of operating outside the rules of the game.

Do you think military involvement in national assignments such as elections and security is a threat to Nigerian democracy?

Military involvement in national assignments does not promote democratic culture and attitudes. But what do you want them to do in situations where democratic institutions are overwhelmed? If Nigerians do not want military in national assignment, then they should strengthen the democratic institutions for performance, as well as make judicious use of their democratic rights as a way of promoting purposeful leadership.

-punch

There was high presence of riot policemen as well as increased security checkpoints in Jos and Bukuru metropolis on Sunday.

Most churches witnessed low turnout as the increased security presence and extra search created panic among residents.

Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Olakpe, told our correspondent that the police were not leaving anything to chance in the bid to ensure that terrorists fleeing from Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states, did not find a safe haven in Plateau.

“We are beefing up security and all the security agencies in Plateau are cooperating to ensure that the state is kept safe. You know that a state of emergency was declared in three states and Plateau escaped because intelligence report had indicated that the state was relatively safe,” Olakpe said.

The commissioner said he was also cooperating with officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service to secure the borders and ensure that illegal immigrants did not take advantage of the situation to enter the state.

Meanwhile, Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang said he would continue to support President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure permanent peace in the country.

Jang stated this in an interview with journalists at the Yakubu Gowon Airport, Haipang, Jos, shortly after his arrival from an overseas trip.

Jang assured the residents that security agencies in the state were capable of keeping the state safe from any type of insurgency and urged the people to cooperate with the security agencies.

He said the President, as the chief security officer of the country, must have had all the security reports before declaring a state of emergency in the three states.

The governor said, “The President knows better because he is the Chief Security Officer of the nation. What we need to do is to support everything that he is doing so that we can bring total peace to our nation.

“The state of emergency, like we had in some local government areas in the country, is to ensure that the military personnel are given the free hand to be able to bring total peace.

“We hope what the President has done will now bring total peace to Nigeria and all the states so that the desire dividends of democracy are provided to Nigerians”

-Punch

Jackson, a two-time United States of American presidential candidate, also said Nigeria “is divided, not so much by religion, region and tribe but by greed.”

Speaking in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State on Friday, Jackson, who was a guest speaker at a lecture organised by the state government as part of activities marking the 2013 edition of Isaac Boro memorial anniversary, said if properly handled, the amnesty programme would tackle insecurity in the country.

For the programme to work, he said all its terms and conditions must be honoured.

According to him, the amnesty must involve economic restitution and rebuilding of mosques and churches destroyed by the terrorists. He described such rehabilitation as a goodwill that would sustain coexistence in the country.

He said the state of emergency declared in three northern states should be as temporary as possible, advising Nigerians to abandon the battlefield and return to negotiation.

He said, “The amnesty must involve economic restitution, jobs and training. Within the United States,when there was civil unrest,there was a kind of state of emergency.

“But I hope the country will soon get back away from the battlefield and get to the negotiation table. In the end, it will be the bargaining table, not the battlefield, that wins victory.You cannot battle forever.

“You can bargain and resolve the conflict in the North. That is why l believe so much in non-violence. Non-violence does not mean fear, but courage and thinking, and it means the ability to figure it out and fight it out. You must have the ability to resolve conflict, and not fight aggressively. It must not resort into killing and being killed.”

Jackson insisted that greed had torn the country apart, saying the disunity in Nigeria should not be blamed so much on region, religion or tribe.

“In Nigeria, too few have too much; too many have too little,” he said, adding that great nations “are measured not by how much they have but by how much they share.”

He noted that God had blessed Nigeria with intelligent, ambitious and industrious people, in addition to fertile soil, oil, fish and farmland. However, he said Nigeria should strive to give peace a chance, saying justice was key to peace.

“Peace does not equal quietness or the absence of noise. Often the oppressed are quiet, intimidated; their pains are suppressed but their predicament does not suppress their aspiration. Their thirst for justice and oneness must be quenched,” he said.

Jackson further regretted the economic irony in Nigeria, saying, “It is not right for a people to starve on a farm full of fertile soil, fruits and vegetables.”

-Punch

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday declared state of
emergency in three north east states of Adamawa, Yobe and Borno
following increasing waves of killing and attacks by suspected Boko
Haram sect.

The three states share borders locally and have international
borders with African countries Cameroon, Chad and Niger.
Borno is the home base of the Boko Haram sect.

“The road linking Adamawa and Borno has been blocked. People
are not allow to move into the neighboring tatetes on the road
especially early in the morning and by afternoon,” Adamu Baba, a
cab drive said.

A Xinhua reporter in the restive state said the cordon measure was
to ensure the militant sect do not escape to the neighboring states
as the bombardment of their camp is going on.

Meanwhile, the advancing troops of Nigeria’s special task force have
destroyed some insurgent’ camps in the forests of northern and
central Borno.

Chris Olukolade, spokesperson for the defense headquarters said in
Abuja on Friday that heavy weapons, including anti-aircraft and
anti-tank guns, were destroyed in the process.

He said the special operations, which preceded troops movement,
resulted in the destruction of much of the insurgent’s weapons.
Logistics, he added, such as vehicles, containers, fuel dumps and
power generators were also destroyed.

According to him, the casualties inflicted on the insurgents in the
course of the assault will be verified during a mop up.

The defense headquarters in Abuja is quite satisfied with the
progress of the operation and the fighting spirit of troops, he added.
The spokesperson urged the task force to sustain the tempo.

Also, border posts have all been manned by security agents to
prevent the escape or infiltration of the insurgents.

The Nigerian leader also directed the Chief of Defense Staff, Ola
Ibrahim, to deploy more troops to the three states of Borno,
Adamawa and Yobe.

-Xinhua

Saturday PUNCH learnt that the insurgents engaged JTF troops for several hours in a tough battle in terrorist camps located in Sambisa Game Reserve, about 70 kilometres south of the Borno State capital, Maiduguri, where the militants first emerged in 2009.

The militants fired anti-aircraft guns at JTF jets and helicopters and attacked ground troops with missiles and guns.

Saturday PUNCH learnt that the casualty figure was high on the side of the militants as the military carried out simultaneous ground and aerial attacks on the troubled border line with Chad, Niger and Cameroon.

The militants hit a JTF helicopter with anti-aircraft weapons during the operation.

However, the pilot was able to navigate the damaged aircraft to safety with no casualty on the part of the crew members.

Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, told Saturday PUNCH in an electronic mail on Friday that soldiers of the Special Task Force also destroyed some Boko Haram camps located in the forests of Northern and Central Borno.

He declined to confirm the casualty figure.

He said that heavy weapons such as anti-air craft and anti-tank guns were destroyed in the operation.

He said that the operation commenced by the Special Task Force before the troops movement resulted in the destruction of several weapons and logistics in possession of the militants.

He listed the destroyed items to include vehicles, containers, fuel dumps and power generators.

“Advancing troops of Special Task Force have destroyed some terrorists camps sited in the forests of Northern and central Borno. Heavy weapons including anti-aircraft and anti-tank guns were also destroyed in the process.

“The special operations which preceded troop movement have resulted in the destruction of much of the insurgents’ weapons and logistics such as vehicles, containers, fuel dumps and power generators. The casualties inflicted on the insurgents in the cause of the assault will be verified during mop-up.

“Defence Headquarters is quite satisfied with the progress of the operation and the fighting spirit of participating troops. The Special Task Force has been enjoined to sustain the tempo.

“Meanwhile, border posts have all been manned by security agents to prevent escape or infiltration by insurgents,” the statement said.

British Broadcasting Corporation quoted Olukolade as saying that at least 30 insurgents’ bodies had been identified while soldiers suffered only minor injuries.

“The operation continues, we are injecting even more troops and resources into those areas,” he added.

The aim is to “destroy (Boko Haram) bases, apprehend as many of them as possible and bring them to justice. It is not just Sambisa, every camp is under attack,” Reuters quoted him as saying.

In a separate battle, five suspected Boko Haram members and three soldiers were confirmed dead in a five-hour gun battle in Daura, hometown of a former head of state, Maj-Gen. Mohammadu Buhari (retd.), on Thursday night.

Katsina State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Abdullahi Magaji, told the News Agency of Nigeria that the sect members attacked two police stations and four banks.

Magaji said one of the suspects was killed on Thursday night while the other four were trailed and shot dead on Mani-Dutsi Road around 9.30am on Friday.

General Officer Commanding 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, Kaduna, Maj-Gen. Garba Wahab, told newsmen in Kaduna that three soldiers died and two others were injured in the fight.

He said security agents recovered four AK 47 rifles and some cash stolen from the bank by the gunmen.

The GOC appealed to residents of Daura, in Katsina State harbouring suspected terrorists to flush them out in their own interest.

“I’m not bothered about the casualties of the criminals but we have been able to recover four AK 47 rifles from them.

“I called this press conference to fill the gap on the attack that occurred and is still taking place in Daura, Katsina State. We had an incident from 10pm on Thursday evening when criminals attacked three police stations and four banks in Daura town.

“At the end of the operation, even though it is still on, I lost three of my men, two including an officer are wounded. I’m not bothered about the casualties among the criminals but we have been able to recover four AK47 rifles from them.

“Another group of the criminals had a road traffic accident, in which three of them died. They engaged the police and the civil defence in that town and one of the vehicles they were travelling in was seen with a huge amount of money.

“I have instructed my boys to give it to the police to count and keep. It is to be given back to the bank because that’s not my job. But the guns recovered in that vehicle by troops is in the custody of the division.

“The criminals came, they bombed vehicles, they packed money using Improvised Explosives Devices to bomb everywhere. There are so many of them dispersed in Daura town right now and what we want to do is to appeal to the people of Daura that anybody with gunshot wounds should be reported (to security agents) because if they don’t, these are the same people who will turn back and attack the same town.

“What I want to achieve is an instance where people living in the North-West feel secure. We don’t want a situation where we will be viewed like we don’t have respect for traditional rulers. That is why we are appealing to the people around the general area even those in the Emir’s palace, because the possibility of these people entering the palace of the Emir is very high.”

In a separate development, the Chief of Army/Civil Military Relations, Brig. Gen. Bola Koleosho, told newsmen in Abuja that the insurgents had been found to be using fake military camouflage in their operations.

Koleosho said the military discovered during a recent gun battle that culminated in heavy casualties on the side of the insurgents that they were kitted with fake camouflage.

He said the Nigerian Army considered it necessary to raise the alarm because of the repetition of the same trend in the Thursday night attacks by gunmen in Daura, Katisna State.

Koleosho, who displayed the two types of camouflage being used by the militants, said there was a marked difference between them and the ones being used by the Nigerian Army for operations in different locations within the country.

He said, “A recent exchange of gun fire with the insurgents in the North Eastern part of the country which resulted in large number of casualties on their side showed that the insurgents were dressed in fake military camouflage.

“To the unsuspecting populace, these insurgents would have been misconstrued as soldiers of the Nigerian Army. No doubt, the Nigerian Army has often been erroneously accused of heinous crimes against innocent citizens whereas Boko Haram insurgents have been the perpetrators of the dastardly acts.

“All of us are aware of what happened in Baga, the accusations and all. But it has been found that Boko Haram in camouflage uniforms were actually responsible for the burning of the houses and killings of civilians.”

Koleosho said soldiers of 35 Battalion, Katsina, under I Division of the Nigerian Army, Kaduna, responded to the distress call in Daura and recovered some IEDs, two Gof cars, 10 AK 47 assault rifles and a large quantity of ammunition.

He warned hospitals and clinics against treating any person with gunshot wounds without the precautionary measure of reporting first to security operatives.

Meanwhile, the United Nations warned on Friday that members of Boko Haram and other extremist groups in Nigeria could face war crimes charges for deliberate acts leading to ethnic and religious cleansing.

The spokesperson for the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Rupert Colvile, said this in a statement made available at the UN headquarters in New York on Friday, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

He reiterated calls on Boko Haram and other extremist groups in Nigeria to cease their “cowardly attacks” against civilians, members of government institutions, security forces and foreign nationals.

“The High Commissioner noted that members of Boko Haram, if judged to have committed systematic attacks against a civilian population on grounds such as religion or ethnicity could be found guilty of crimes against humanity.

“Deliberate acts leading to population ‘cleansing’ on grounds of religion or ethnicity could also amount to a crime against humanity,” Colville stressed.

OHCHR urged the Nigerian government to abide by human rights principles during security patrols.

The rights body also said it was concerned about the large number of casualties, reportedly including many civilians, and massive destruction of houses and property.

Colville urged the government to ensure that international human rights law was respected during its emergency operations.

United States Secretary of State, Mr. John Kerry, on Friday expressed concern at allegations of ‘gross human rights violations’ in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

In a statement titled ‘State of Emergency and Fighting in Northern Nigeria,’ Kerry said, “The United States is deeply concerned about the fighting in North-Eastern Nigeria following President Jonathan’s declaration of a state of emergency in the Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states. We are also deeply concerned by credible allegations that Nigerian security forces are committing gross human rights violations, which, in turn, only escalate the violence and fuel extremism.

“The United States condemns Boko Haram’s campaign of terror in the strongest terms. We urge Nigeria’s security forces to apply disciplined use of force in all operations, protect civilians in any security response, and respect human rights and the rule of law.”
-Punch

The names of the recaptured councils could not be confirmed out of the lot in possession of the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram. The areas where the insurgents were said to have been in total control before the military operation launched on Thursday were Marte, Magumeri, Mobbar, Gubio, Guzamala, Abadamin, Kukawa, Kaga, Nganzai and Monguno.

Also, the troops reportedly invaded and took over a training camp of the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram, known as Sambisa on the outskirts of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, in the early hours of Thursday.

Borno as well as Adamawa and Yobe states fell under emergency rule by presidential proclamation on Tuesday.

President Goodluck Jonathan said all efforts to bring the violence in the area under control had failed hence the need to use force to force insurgents out of the states, especially Borno where the President said insurgents had taken control of the northern part.

A soldier who spoke to one of our correspondents from Maiduguri, on the condition of anonymity, said, “We have succeeded in taking over Sambisa Games Reserve, which the sect had been using as its camp. Scores of people found in the camp were arrested.

“We will interrogate them and those who are not members of the sect will be set free. The operation is being carried out in such a way that there is no harassment. The innocent should not be afraid.”

The source however declined to comment on the number of casualties already recorded and the number of persons arrested.

The PUNCH learnt that troops on Thursday shut down almost half of the state as they attacked suspected Boko Haram enclaves.

A man who spoke to one of our correspondents on the telephone from Maiduguri narrated that the military operation in the city had disrupted normal life.

He said the number of roadblocks had increased and that “farmers are no longer going to the farm, only a few traders are venturing out to the market.

“Shop owners who sell provisions are finding it difficult to replenish their stock.”

The source further explained that even residents of Maiduguri, considered safe were living in fear.

This, he explained, was because they feared that the insurgents could sneak into town. The Boko Haram insurgency began in Maiduguri in 2009 and Borno State is seen as the operational base of the sect that has killed at least 2,500 persons in attacks on military and police facilities, drinking joints, worship houses and markets.

Director of Defence Information, Brig.- Gen. Chris Olukolade, said in a telephone interview with one of our correspondents that more troops had been deployed in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.

He declined to comment on the number of troops that were billed to participate in the major military operations planned to flush out the insurgents from the area.

Olukolade said that it was not strategic to disclose the number of soldiers or security personnel that would be used for the operation.

“All I can say is that more soldiers have been deployed today; that I can confirm to you. On the issue of the numbers that are being quoted, they are not from the DHQ. We are not quoting any number.

“The operation is continuing satisfactorily. Details will be made available to the public at the appropriate time.”

Another source in the besieged area said, “We now have more soldiers and weapons than I have ever seen in my life. Although some of them are moving towards the north, some are remaining here in Maiduguri.

“I have no idea what is going on in places like Bama, Marte, Magumeri, and Monguno where the Boko Haram people have taken control of some towns and villages. But movement in-and-out of these areas has been restricted.”

The Nigerian Army on Thursday announced an indefinite dusk-to-dawn curfew in Adamawa State.

Public Relations Officer of 23rd Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Yola, Lt. Ja’afaru Nuhu, in a statement on Thursday said the curfew would be between 6 pm and 6 am until further notice.

He said, “Sequel to the Presidential declaration of state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan, a 6pm to 6am curfew has been imposed on Adamawa State.

“All law-abiding citizens are advised to abide by the curfew,” the statement said.

There are reports that business and other activities are going on as usual in Yola in spite of the heavy deployment of soldiers and policemen in strategic places.

The BBC reports on Thursday indicated that mobile phone networks were not functioning in many parts of North-East states, though the reporter said it was not clear if the situation was related to the current military offensive.

The insurgents had previously attacked mobile phone masts in the area in an effort to disrupt communications.

The State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Inuwa Bwala, and the Director of Press, Mallam Isa Gusau, could not be reached as of the time of this report.

-Vanguard

Umar is standing trial for allegedly bombing a plaza housing the offices of some newspapers in Kaduna in April 2012.

The witness, a police detective, said he interrogated Umar after he was arrested in Kaduna and brought to Abuja.

The accused, the detective said, was unhappy because not dying with victims of the attack had denied him the opportunity to make heaven.

The witness was masked, and his name not disclosed, in line with a court order protecting witnesses that testify in terrorism-related trials.

Testifying while being led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Mr. Simon Labaran, the witness narrated how Umar was handed over to him at the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Area 10, Garki, Abuja, after his arrest in Kaduna on April 26, 2012.

He said, “I was serving in Force CID Area 10, Abuja, as a detective in charge of investigation of terrorism cases.

“On April 26, 2012, the accused person was brought from Kaduna and handed over to me for discreet investigation.

“The accused person was involved in the bombing of ThisDay office (in Kaduna).

“He was always crying because the operation he went for failed, he said that he would have been happier if he had died in the operation with people (victims) so that he would be in heaven.”

The witness informed the court that the suspect made five statements while he was interrogated.

He further told the court that Umar was not tortured before he confessed, adding that he was given medical treatment.

-Punch

The military will take “all necessary action” to “put an end to the impunity of insurgents and terrorists” in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe, he said.

Mr Jonathan also ordered more troops to be sent to the north-eastern states.

Militants from Boko Haram have been blamed for most of the violence, which has left 2,000 people dead since 2010.

The Islamist group, whose name means “Western education is forbidden” in the local Hausa language, is fighting to overthrow the government and create an Islamic state in the north.

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.

President Goodluck Jonathan has declared a state of emergency across an already heavily militarised area of northern Nigeria.

This is not the first time he has taken such action following an upsurge in attacks by Islamist militants. The question is whether more troops on the ground will make any difference. Many analysts say the military has been losing the battle for hearts and minds and abuse allegations have helped boost Boko Haram.

Attacks have largely been hit-and-run or even suicide missions, but by saying areas have been “taken over by groups whose allegiance was to different flags and ideologies”, the president has made the somewhat embarrassing admission that the state no longer controls the entire territory of Nigeria.

Mr Jonathan also urged politicians in the affected states to co-operate with the armed forces and the police. This raises the question of what they have been doing. After all, some northern politicians have been accused of backing Boko Haram.

The conflict, which started last week, is said to have been caused by a dispute over land ownership between cattle herders and farmers.

‘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.”

Referring to recent attacks 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.

“The chief of defence staff has been directed to immediately deploy more troops to these states for more effective internal security operations.

“The troops and other security agencies involved in these operations have orders to take all necessary action… to put an end to the impunity of insurgents and terrorists.”

At the same time, he stressed that – despite the state of emergency – politicians in the three states would remain in their posts.

The president has the power to sack local politicians and install a caretaker government in emergency circumstances.

“Already, some northern parts of Borno state have been taken over by groups whose allegiance are to different flags than Nigeria’s,” he said.

The BBC’s Will Ross in Lagos says it is not the first time President Jonathan has declared a state of emergency, 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.

-BBC

The gunmen, according to Reuters, killed 22 police officers, 14 prison officials, two soldiers and four civilians, while 13 of the sect’s members died in the clash with the task force members.

Spokesman for the JTF, Sagir Musa, confirmed this to Reuters.

The suspected terrorists were said to have freed 105 prison inmates during the attack which reportedly began at around 5am.

The JTF, which took journalists to Bama to assess the damage caused by the terrorists, added that three children and one woman, were among those killed during the multiple attacks in the town.

Sources in the town claimed that about 300 suspected members of Boko Haram stormed the town, first attacking the 200 Tank Battallion, a military Barracks.

The suspected terrorists were, however, repelled by soldiers, who killed several insurgents who were forced to retreat with the corpses of their members.

They were unable to take away 10 of their members’ bodies.

One other member, who was injured, was tied to the stake when the JTF and journalists visited.

Bama’s police station, military barracks and government buildings were razed, an eyewitness in Bama said.

Bama is a small, remote town in northeastern Borno State, where Boko Haram first began its uprising in 2009.

Meanwhile, Senate Joint Committee investigating the Baga massacre on Tuesday visited Maiduguri, Borno State capital, en-route the site of the tragedy.

Our correspondent learnt that members of three standing committees of the Senate namely: Police Affairs, Defence, National Security and Intelligence, were in the state on a fact-finding mission.

The state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Inuwa Bwala, confirmed this in a telephone interview.

“Members of the committee are here. They just arrived Maiduguri. We are going into a meeting that is all I can tell you for now,” Bwala said.

–Punch