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               Nigerian President Declares Emergency in 3 States

   by VOA News

   Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has declared a state of emergency
   in three northeastern states following a surge in violence related to
   Islamist militants.
   In a nationally televised address Tuesday, Jonathan said he is
   deploying more troops to Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states for what he
   called internal security operations.
   The Nigerian leader said the troops have orders to take "all necessary
   actions" to stop insurgents and terrorists, and have authority to make
   arrests and take control of any building used for terrorist purposes.
   Jonathan cut short a trip to southern Africa last week to deal with the
   growing violence in Nigeria.
   ''The militant group Boko Haram raided the northeastern town of Bama on
   May 5, leaving 55 people dead, including many police and prison guards.
   Two weeks earlier, more than 180 died in clashes between militants and
   government forces in the nearby town of Baga. Witnesses blamed many of
   the deaths on fires set by the military - an accusation the military
   denied.
   On Monday, the purported leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, said in
   a video the group has started kidnapping women and children as part of
   its campaign against the government.
   Boko Haram has fought the Nigerian government since 2009. The shadowy
   group says it wants to impose Islamic law on the country's mostly
   Muslim north.
   Human Rights Watch says more than 3,000 people have died in the
   violence, including many allegedly killed by government forces.
   Northern leaders have suggested the government offer amnesty to the
   militants in hopes of stopping the violence.
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   -in-three-states/1661011.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/nigerian-president-declares-emergency-in-three-states/1661011.html