The curfew imposed on Yobe and Borno states were relaxed, yesterday, just as the military made progress in the campaign against the Boko Haram insurgency in the two states.
Yesterday, the military announced the arrest of 120 militants at a funeral ceremony for one of the commanders of the Boko Haram killed during a confrontation with the military. Many other militants were reported to be fleeing towards the eastern border to Chad and Niger republics.
Soldiers
in Yola, Adamawa State: Operational Commander, Brig-Gen. Fatai Alli
addressing soldiers on arrival in Yola for the State of Emergency
Operation yesterday. Photo: NAN.
Members of the National Assembly belonging to the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN and the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC are today set to break party ranks as they rally support for President
Goodluck Jonathan’s proclamation of state of emergency in three states of the Northeast.
Today’s vote in the Senate and the House of Representatives is coming on the heels of the reinforcement of military forces in the three states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa affected by the state of emergency. At least 200 troops were confirmed to have been ferried into Adamawa State on the southern flank of the northeast presently under emergency rule.
Principal officials of the two houses were, locked in preparatory meetings ahead of today’s vote at press time. One of the principal officials in the House of Representatives told Vanguard on the condition of anonymity that the votes to endorse the proclamation would be achieved.
Reps, Senators vote on emergency rule today
At least 240 votes are required to pass the emergency proclamation in the House, while at least 72 votes are required in the senate. The ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has 200 members while the combined strength of the opposition parties is 160.
Despite the insufficient numbers, a ranking PDP member in the House was confident of the House endorsing the emergency proclamation.
In the senate, the PDP was equally confident of clinching several votes from the ACN and CPC ranks. A prominent ACN official confided, yesterday, that many of them would be voting in support of the proclamation as he said that it was the best for the country at this time.
In the Senate, the combined opposition figure of 38 is also set to be breached as a number of opposition senators defy their party whips to vote in support of the proclamation.
Both the ACN and the CPC had last week raised strong objections to the declaration of emergency rule by President Jonathan last Tuesday.
Meanwhile, it emerged that the special forces deployed in Borno State had, yesterday, retaken six towns from the Boko Haram terrorists and destroyed an equal number of camps in those towns.
120 insurgents arrested at commander’s burial
The liberation of the towns came as soldiers apprehended 120 members of the Boko Haram group who were ironically making arrangements for the burial of one of their commanders killed in confrontation with the military.
Following the onslaught, the terrorists were said to be fleeing towards Chad and Niger Republics but they are being contained by troops at the borders.
A statement signed by the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Chris Olukolade on the development said: “The Special Forces have now secured the environs of New Marte, Hausari, Krenoa,
Wulgo and Chikun Ngulalo after destroying all the terrorist camps sited in the vicinity of these localities. 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 encounter 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 groups. In Maiduguri, about 120 terrorists were arrested as they organized burial of one of their commanders who died in an encounter with Special Forces the previous day.
“The arrested insurgents are in custody of the Joint Task Force where they are being interrogated”.
Meanwhile, Defence Headquarters said it has observed the use of photographs purportedly taken in the areas covered by the operations and “wishes to state that the photographs are questionable as they do not reflect any related reality of the social or geographical environment.
Source: Vanguard
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