President Goodluck Jonathan has disclosed that the state of Emergency declared in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, may not last for six months as prescribed by the constitution.
He told the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki Moon at the sideline of the 21st ordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Africa Union holding in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
He said with the level of success so far recorded by the troops deployed in the affected states, he was optimistic that the emergency rule would end before the initial six months stipulated by the constitution.
“The military intervention in the affected states is going on well. There is no human rights abuse and there is no collateral damage with regards to security of individuals. I am optimistic that with the level of success already being recorded, the emergency rule in the affected states may not last up to the six months stipulated by the constitution,” he said.
President Jonathan also told Moon that the military operation in the troubled states was going very well and the military had strictly adhered to the rules of engagement.
He explained that the successes recorded by the military is exemplified by the lack of collateral civilian casualties, noting that the operation has helped in creating a better relationship between the civilian population and members of the armed forces.
The president told the Secretary General of the Noted Nations that government would do everything possible to ensure that the civilian population is not put through hardship, adding that the rules of engagement given to the military deployed in the area is strictly adhered to by the military.
Jonathan said government’s decision to release women and children members of the Boko Haram was in the spirit of the rules of engagement of the operation.
Earlier in his remarks, the Secretary General of the United Nations sympathized with the government and people of Nigeria over he activities of Boko Haram, saying that Terrorism is a global phenomenon that must be confronted by the international community.
He reiterated his call on the Nigerian military engaged in operations in the affected states where state of emergency has been declared to be prudent and cautious in protecting the civilian population in the areas of operation.
While thanking President Jonathan for Nigeria’s contributions to peace keeping operations of the United Nations, Mr. Moon further solicited the support of the Nigeria in ensuring that the political crises in Guinea Bissau.
President Jonathan also met with the presidents of Egypt, Jamaica as well as the King of Swaziland.
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