DECLARATION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY IN BORNO, YOBE AND ADAMAWA STATES

ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT GOODLUCK EBELE
JONATHAN, GCFR
ON THE DECLARATION OF A STATE OF
EMERGENCY IN BORNO, YOBE AND
ADAMAWA STATES IN ORDER TO RESTORE
PUBLIC ORDER, PUBLIC SAFETY AND
SECURITY IN THE AFFECTED STATES OF THE
FEDERATION
MAY 14, 2013
Dear compatriots,
1. It has become necessary for me to
address you on the recent spate of
terrorist activities and protracted security
challenges in some parts of the country,
particularly in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa,
Gombe, Bauchi, Kano, Plateau and most
recently Bayelsa, Taraba, Benue and
Nasarawa states. These unfortunate events
have led to needless loss of lives and
property of many innocent Nigerians
including members of our security forces.
2. The recent killing of security operatives
by a cult group in Nasarawa state is
particularly condemnable. I have directed
that no effort or expense be spared in
identifying and bringing to justice all those
who had a hand in the killing of the
operatives.
3. The activities of insurgents and terrorists
have been reprehensible, causing fear
among our citizens and a near-breakdown
of law and order in parts of the country,
especially the North. We have taken
robust steps to unravel and address the
root causes of these crises, but it would
appear that there is a systematic effort by
insurgents and terrorists to destabilize the
Nigerian state and test our collective
resolve.
4. Since I returned to the country after
cutting short my visit to South Africa and
aborting a planned state visit to Namibia, I
have received detailed briefings from our
security agencies. These briefings indicate
that 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. Already, some northern
parts of Borno state have been taken over
by groups whose allegiance is to different
flags and ideologies.
5. These terrorists and insurgents seem
determined to establish control and
authority over parts of our beloved nation
and to progressively overwhelm the rest of
the country. In many places, they have
destroyed the Nigerian flag and other
symbols of state authority and in their
place, hoisted strange flags suggesting the
exercise of alternative sovereignty.
6. They have attacked government
buildings and facilities. They have
murdered innocent citizens and state
officials. They have set houses ablaze, and
taken women and children as hostages.
These actions amount to a declaration of
war and a deliberate attempt to
undermine the authority of the Nigerian
state and threaten her territorial integrity.
As a responsible government, we will not
tolerate this.
7. Previously, we adopted a multi-track
approach to the resolution of this problem
through actions which included persuasion,
dialogue and widespread consultation with
the political, religious and community
leaders in the affected states.
8. We exercised restraint to allow for all
efforts by both State Governors and well-
meaning Nigerians to stop the repeated
cases of mindless violence.
9. Yet, the insurgents and terrorists seek
to prevent government from fulfilling its
constitutional obligations to the people as
they pursue their fanatical agenda of
mayhem, mass murder, division and
separatism.
10. While the efforts at persuasion and
dialogue will continue, let me reiterate
that we have a sacred duty to ensure the
security and well-being of all our people
and protect the sovereign integrity of our
country. Therefore, we shall, on no
account, shy away from doing whatever
becomes necessary to provide the fullest
possible security for the citizens of this
country in any part of the country they
choose to reside.
11. We have a duty to stand firm against
those who threaten the sovereign integrity
of the Nigerian state. Our will is strong,
because our faith lies in the indivisibility of
Nigeria.
12. Following recent developments in the
affected states, it has become necessary
for Government to take extraordinary
measures to restore normalcy. After wide
consultations, and in exercise of the
powers conferred on me by the provisions
of Section 305, sub-section 1 of the
Constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria 1999 as amended, I hereby declare
a State of Emergency in Borno, Yobe and
Adamawa states.
13. Accordingly, 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, within the ambit of their
rules of engagement, to put an end to the
impunity of insurgents and terrorists.
14. This will include the authority to arrest
and detain suspects, the taking of
possession and control of any building or
structure used for terrorist purposes, the
lock-down of any area of terrorist
operation, the conduct of searches, and
the apprehension of persons in illegal
possession of weapons.
15. The details of this Proclamation will be
transmitted to the National Assembly in
accordance with the provisions of the
Constitution. But in the meantime, let me
make it clear that within the purview of
this Proclamation, the Governors and other
political office holders in the affected
states will continue to discharge their
constitutional responsibilities.
16. I urge the political leadership in Borno,
Yobe and Adamawa states to co-operate
maximally with the Armed Forces and the
Police to ensure that the exercise
succeeds. We call on the citizenry to co-
operate with our security agencies to
ensure a return to normalcy within the
shortest possible time.
17. I am again approaching our
neighbouring countries, through diplomatic
channels, as done in the recent past, for
their co-operation in apprehending any
terrorist elements that may escape across
the border.
18. Nigerians are peace-loving people;
these sad events perpetrated by those
who do not wish our nation well have not
changed the essential character of our
people.
19. I want to reassure you all that those
who are directly or indirectly encouraging
any form of rebellion against the Nigerian
state, and their collaborators; those
insurgents and terrorists who take delight
in killing our security operatives, whoever
they may be, wherever they may go, we
will hunt them down, we will fish them
out, and we will bring them to justice. No
matter what it takes, we will win this war
against terror.
20.I am convinced that with your support
and prayers, we shall overcome these
challenges and together, we will restore
every part of our country to the path of
peace, growth and development.
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.