Senate renews emergency rule with 8 conditions

Nigeria Senate yesterday endorsed a six-month extension of emergency rule in three states in the Northeast. The endorsement was, however, with eight conditions which the lawmakers said must be observed in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.

Some senators of Northern extraction had last week vowed to stop the extension. The lawmakers contended that one year of emergency rule had not yielded the expected results.

Before the upper chamber threw its back behind the extension it held over four hour closed door session to thrash contentious issues especially those raised by opposing Senators. Some observers were, however, taken aback with the turn of events, especially the unanimous adoption of the motion to extend the emergency rule.

House of Representatives endorse emergency rule extension in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa

The Nigeria House of Reps has approved President Goodluck Jonathan’s request for another six months of emergency rule in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States, as the deadly activities of the extremist group, Boko Haram are yet to be contained by Jonathan' administration. Nigerian Reps gave the approval Thursday after a closed-door meeting with Nigeria’s security service chiefs.

Earlier, the chiefs of army, navy, airforce and the defence chief had earlier briefed Senators about the present security situation, the abduction of over 250 girls in Chibok, Borno State.

Senate Summons Service Chiefs, IGP, NSA, Defence Minister, Police Affair Minister Over Emergency Rule Extension

Following the the latest request by the Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan for further extension of emergency rule in the northeastern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, the Senate has on Wednesday invited the Service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police, IGP to appear Thursday to brief the Nigerian Upper legislative Chamber on the security situation in the affected states where state of emergency was imposed before commencing debates on the president's request for extension of the emergency rule.

Others invited by the Nigeria Senate are: National Security Adviser (NSA), Defence Minister and the Minister of Police Affair.

Boko Haram: Nigeria military shuts down telephone lines in Borno again

Nigerian military in Borno State are raiding camps of Boko Haram.

Phone lines in Borno State were on Wednesday shut down by the military as they continue to raid camps of the Boko-Haram Islamic terrorists group. The telephone users woke up to a “No service” as they tried to reach their contacts.

This is another  major shut down of telephone lines since the last experience that lasted about six months until it was restored on December 3, 2013.

The Spokesman of the 7-Division of the Nigeria Army, Muhammed Dole, explained the development as a military strategy at fighting the terrorists group.

President Jonathan Appoints Gen. Aliyu Gusau As Defence Minister, Charges Him To Stop Boko Haram Killings

The Nigerian President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has appointed a former military general from the Muslim north as his defence minister, as he looks to combat an increasingly bloody armed conflict with Boko Haram.

Wednesday's appointment of Aliyu Gusau may lead to a change in strategy in the raging battle against the Muslim rebel group.

The increasingly and deadly attacks by Boko Haram made the position to be vacant since June 2012, when Jonathan sacked Mohammed Bello, former defence minister.

Boko Haram Gunmen Raided Villages In Borno State Killing Civillians

- AFP Kano - Suspected Islamist Boko Haram gunmen raided two villages in Nigeria's restive northeast, torching homes and markets in attacks that killed at least four people and sent residents fleeing, witnesses and aid workers said on Wednesday.

Both raids occurred late on Tuesday in Borno state, a stronghold of the Boko Haram Islamist group that is waging a brutal extremist insurgency in the region.

Shortly before sundown, scores of gunmen in 4x4 trucks stormed the village of Konduga, spraying gunfire indiscriminately and setting the place on fire, said Bukar Mai Rembe, a Nigeria Red Cross worker in Konduga.

"The attack forced residents to flee the town into the bush while the gunmen went about setting fire to houses and markets," he told AFP, declining to give casualty figures.

"It was crazy," resident Sanda Goni said, adding that "hundreds" of houses had been burned in the attack that lasted roughly five hours.

"Most of residents are still in the bush, afraid to return to the town," he said.

Separately late Tuesday, gunmen opened fire in the village of Wajirko, before retreating during a shoot-out with soldiers deployed in the area, resident Adamu Maude said.

"We lost four people in the attack and six more have been taken to hospital," he said, adding that the attackers razed about 50 houses.

A similar attack last month in the village of Kawuri left at least 52 people dead, according to Borno state police, although local residents put the death toll at 85.

Borno and the neighbouring states of Adamawa and Yobe have been under emergency rule since May last year in a bid to stop the Islamist rebellion, which has claimed thousands of lives since 2009.

Attacks have continued in remote areas as well as in cities despite a military operation launched in the northeast when emergency rule was declared.

President Goodluck Jonathan, who has voiced frustration with the progress of the operation, replaced his top military brass on 16 January.