[size=14pt]Nigerian cities in lockdown after emergency decree [/size]
From: AFP
January 02, 20121:59AM

NIGERIA began the new year Sunday under a state of emergency in areas targeted by Islamist attacks as soldiers flooded hard-hit cities in a bid to end spiralling violence in Africa's most populous nation.

Residents in the northeastern city of Maiduguri reported a sharp increase in patrols and checkpoints, with soldiers in pickup trucks and armed with rifles stopping vehicles and forcing drivers to exit while also questioning them.

In the central city of Jos, security agents took over local government headquarters and two helicopters hovered overhead, while intensified patrols occurred on the ground.

President Goodluck Jonathan's declaration on Saturday gives security agencies more powers to search and arrest, seals off borders in hard-hit areas and establishes a military counter-terrorism force.

The declaration comes in response to scores of attacks blamed on Islamist group Boko Haram, particularly a wave of bombings on Christmas that killed 49 people, most in a gruesome blast at a Catholic church as services were ending.

While Boko Haram has been carrying out increasingly deadly attacks for months, including an August suicide bombing of UN headquarters in Abuja that left 25 dead, the Christmas violence sparked intense fear and outrage.

It also led to warnings from Christian leaders that they would defend themselves if such attacks continued, raising deep concern in a country roughly divided between a mainly Muslim north and predominately Christian south.

In declaring the state of emergency in Africa's largest oil producer, Jonathan acknowledged that the attacks "have threatened our collective security and shaken the foundations of our corporate existence as a nation."

Jonathan said in a nationwide broadcast that "it has become imperative to take some decisive measures necessary to restore normalcy in the country especially within the affected communities."

"Consequently, I have,  declared a state of emergency in the following parts of the federation," he said, listing parts of the states of Borno, where Boko Haram traditionally has its base, as well as Yobe, Niger and Plateau.

In a sign of the challenges facing Nigeria, some 50 people were killed in clashes between two neighbouring communities in southeastern Ebonyi state on Saturday, a government spokesman said, but the clashes were not linked to attacks by Boko Haram, he added.

Earlier Saturday, Jonathan visited the church where the bloodiest Christmas attack occurred and branded Boko Haram a "cancerous" group bent on destroying Nigeria while vowing it would be crushed.

The measures and rhetoric marked a sharp change for Jonathan, who has come under mounting criticism over the authorities' failure to stop the violence.

Many of his previous pronouncements sought to minimise the attacks and reassure the country that the violence was only temporary and would soon be brought to an end despite near daily shootings and bombings.

While some welcomed the declaration, others raised concerns that it would provide legal cover for soldiers to carry out further abuses.

A military task force in Borno state has been accused in recent months of killing civilians and burning homes after bomb attacks, claiming residents collaborated with the extremists.

"The declaration of a state of emergency by the federal government will not stop or reduce the spate of violence across the affected areas, but will simply be a blank cheque for human rights violations by security agents," said northern-based rights activist Shehu Sani.

"Civilians will continue to be at the mercy of the military and the militants. Dialogue still remains the valid option to end this bloodletting."

The country was also facing the threat of protests, as regulators on Sunday announced the start of a controversial measure expected to lead to an increase in petrol prices.

Hundreds of people have been killed in 2011 alone in attacks blamed on Boko Haram, most in the northeast.

An early version of the group formed in 2004, though it has taken on different forms since that time. It launched an uprising in 2009 put down by a brutal military assault which left some 800 dead.

It is believed to have several factions, including those with political links as well as radical Islamist cells.

There has been intense speculation over whether it has formed links with outside extremist groups, such as Al-Qaeda's north African branch.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/nigerian-cities-in-lockdown-after-emergency-decree/story-e6frf7k6-1226234513141

[flash=450,350]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcxaREt_z4Y[/flash]

Nigerian president declares state of emergency

While some welcomed the declaration, others raised concerns that it would provide legal cover for soldiers to carry out further abuses.

A military task force in Borno state has been accused in recent months of killing civilians and burning homes after bomb attacks, claiming residents collaborated with the extremists.

"The declaration of a state of emergency by the federal government will not stop or reduce the spate of violence across the affected areas, but will simply be a blank cheque for human rights violations by security agents," said northern-based rights activist Shehu Sani.

"Civilians will continue to be at the mercy of the military and the militants. Dialogue still remains the valid option to end this bloodletting."

Negotiate with who?
Someone should tell Shehu Sani that, while he was uttering those words, no bombs went off anywhere in the country throughout new years eve.

I hate it when people talk unrealistically about negotiations - or may be this is simply what they are supposed to be saying.

The question is how do you negotiate with a group that is looking to establish its own theocratic state? Where is the BH headquarter? Who is their leader, and where does he reside?

Beaf:

[size=14pt]Nigerian cities in lockdown after emergency decree [/size]
From: AFP
January 02, 20121:59AM

Many of his previous pronouncements sought to minimise the attacks and reassure the country that the violence was only temporary and would soon be brought to an end despite near daily shootings and bombings.

While some welcomed the declaration, others raised concerns that it would provide legal cover for soldiers to carry out further abuses.

A military task force in Borno state has been accused in recent months of killing civilians and burning homes after bomb attacks, claiming residents collaborated with the extremists.

"The declaration of a state of emergency by the federal government will not stop or reduce the spate of violence across the affected areas, but will simply be a blank cheque for human rights violations by security agents," said northern-based rights activist Shehu Sani.

"Civilians will continue to be at the mercy of the military and the militants. Dialogue still remains the valid option to end this bloodletting."

The country was also facing the threat of protests, as regulators on Sunday announced the start of a controversial measure expected to lead to an increase in petrol prices.

Hundreds of people have been killed in 2011 alone in attacks blamed on Boko Haram, most in the northeast.

An early version of the group formed in 2004, though it has taken on different forms since that time. It launched an uprising in 2009 put down by a brutal military assault which left some 800 dead.

It is believed to have several factions, including those with political links as well as radical Islamist cells.

There has been intense speculation over whether it has formed links with outside extremist groups, such as Al-Qaeda's north African branch.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/nigerian-cities-in-lockdown-after-emergency-decree/story-e6frf7k6-1226234513141

Although this action by the president is commendable this should have been done at the state level.

Those behind BH seem to be planning for a much wider war, and have stayed a step ahead of the government. Government must then take 2 giant steps in order to catch up and 3 to get ahead. That would have required a state-level emergency declaration, not the local government.

Still, it is my hope that this move succeeds - or expands quickly as needed to achieve success.

Beaf:

[size=14pt]Nigerian cities in lockdown after emergency decree [/size]
From: AFP
January 02, 20121:59AM

NIGERIA began the new year Sunday under a state of emergency in areas targeted by Islamist attacks as soldiers flooded hard-hit cities in a bid to end spiralling violence in Africa's most populous nation.

Residents in the northeastern city of Maiduguri reported a sharp increase in patrols and checkpoints, with soldiers in pickup trucks and armed with rifles stopping vehicles and forcing drivers to exit while also questioning them.

In the central city of Jos, security agents took over local government headquarters and two helicopters hovered overhead, while intensified patrols occurred on the ground.

Those who talk about negotiation  are either being unrealistic or mischievous. i reproduce an excerpt of a submission i made on another thread on related issue;

How do you dialogue with a terrorist  group which, in a heterogeneous/multi-religious society as we have in Nigeria, says it'll only accept strict implementation of sharia law across Nigeria, replacement of the Federal constitution with sharia law, a theocratic (Islamic) government to replace the democracy we now practice and kills with impunity?

Negotiation is a very realistic solution to these kind of issues.  By negotiation we mean that as a component of the total counter-force to defeat boko.   Usually when disgruntled elements complain, their grievance is tabled as a generic.  The real issue of the complaint is specific and hidden within.  When you begin to talk and consult to understand the grievance then revelations come out on why they are dissatisfied and this root cause is what need to be remedied.  You need people who are grounded in this field and can penetrate beneath the surface to grab at the real reason for discord and discontent.