Nigerians largely back emergency rule extension

Nigerians in three northeastern states under emergency rule broadly support the extension of special powers designed to quell the Boko Haram insurgency that has claimed thousands of lives. Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states first saw a massive influx of troops in May this year and a communications black-out to tackle militants who want to impose a harsh form of Islamic law in the region. Improved security saw mobile and satellite networks switched back on in Yobe and Adamawa in June but far-flung Borno -- the worst affected state -- is still in the dark. "Everybody knows that we are now enjoying relative peace in Borno due to the emergency rule," said Laraba Bello, from the state capital Maiduguri, whose husband and three children were killed in a Boko Haram attack last year. "So, I support the extension and the continued blockage of (the phone network) in the state. Once the network is back, the insurgents will resume their operations to destroy the people and the state," the civil servant told Agence France Presse. In the Yobe state capital, Damaturu, local resident Ahmad Bakura said "no-one in their right mind" would oppose the extension of emergency rule, which has partly forced insurgents out of towns and cities and into the bush. Others said it was "simplistic" to believe that Boko Haram could be defeated in six months but there were concerns about the effect of the communications blackout on livelihoods. "Even though we support the extension of emergency rule, the (mobile phone) network should be back," said Maiduguri market trader Mohammed Ibrahim, adding that businesses were "crumbling" without any means of communication. People were being put at greater risk of attack as they frequently traveled from Maiduguri to Damaturu to make phone calls, he said. Dozens of people have been killed in ambushes on the state's rural roads. In a statement last week, Yobe's Governor Ibrahim Gaidam said the effectiveness of emergency rule so far had been "checkered," specifically noting attacks that have killed dozens of students since July. The partly symbolic move of extending emergency rule was not enough, the governor said, calling for more military personnel and hardware that can "actually address the ongoing senseless and violent insurgency." Meanwhile in Yola, the capital of Adamawa, some blamed internal politics for the decision to extend emergency rule, as the state governor is part of a breakaway faction of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP). The governor, Murtala Nyako, has previously called for President Goodluck Jonathan not to be re-elected in the 2015 elections. "Even when the president made the emergency declaration in May there was nothing to warrant including Adamawa state in the emergency," said local resident Modibbo Ibrahim. "The inclusion of Adamawa state in the state of emergency renewal was clearly motivated by sheer politics to keep tight control on the state whose governor is at daggers drawn with the president and his ruling party." Nevertheless, there was support for the continued military presence in Madagali, which is near forests where Boko Haram militants have been hiding out. "Those of us on the border with Borno state appreciate the security challenge posed by Boko Haram and we welcome the emergency state extension," said Bitrus Mairiga. "We support the federal government decision to renew the state of emergency."