What Next for State of Emergency?
Eighteen months after the emergency rule in the three North-east states of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe, Michael Olugbode and Daji Sani examine its successes, failures, and lessons
President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states in a broadcast on May 14 last year following murderous attacks on communities and government institutions in the North-east by the Islamic terrorist group, Boko Haram. Jonathan, however, said, “Within the purview of this proclamation, the governors and other political office holders in the affected states will continue to discharge their constitutional responsibilities.”
The state of emergency, which was imposed for six months, in the first instance, did not immediately stop the terrorist attacks, which caused an exodus of residents of the affected states to the state capitals and neighbouring countries.
Adamawa
In Adamawa State, owing to the unremitting attacks by Boko Haram insurgents, the then governor, Murtala Nyako, banned the use of motorcycles in some local government areas, including the state capital. Motorcycles were believed to be easy means of entry, attack, and escape for the terrorists.
There was a slight decrease in the rate of attacks after the ban on motorcycles. But the insurgents changed their method by using stolen cars to execute their plans.
The imposition of the state of emergency and curfew on the state brought about a reduction of the attacks in broad daylight, especially in Yola, the state capital.
Controversy
The state of emergency made serious impact on the lives of the residents in the first six months, as many of the insurgents that were terrorising and killing were trailed to their hideouts and apprehended by the security agent.
However, some stakeholders in the state alleged that Adamawa State was not supposed to be under the emergency rule because the security threat in the state was minimal. They perceived it as an unnecessary political imposition. Yet, there were those who believed there was need for the state of emergency because of the frequent killings by insurgent in many local government areas of the state.
For instance, within the period of the emergency rule declaration, 25 persons were killed in Ganye, 23 were killed in Mahia, 19 in Gombi, and 22 in Song local government areas. There were also huge destructions of property in the affected local government areas.
Proponents of emergency rule said Adamawa was included in the presidential proclamation to not only stop the killings and destruction, but to also prevent the insurgents from running into the state from Borno and Yobe states. Borno was seen as the stronghold of the insurgents.
More Pain, Less Gain
Definitely, some of the objectives of the state of emergency in Adamawa State have been achieved. Observers admit that the insurgents have largely been chased from the state capital to the outskirts of the state.
However, many residents of the state say that there have been more pains than gains from the 18-month-old emergency rule. They lament that from a mainly hit-and-run approach, the insurgents have gone into seizure and holding of territories, despite the emergency rule.
Opposition to Extension
Last week, the federal government sent a request to the National Assembly for an extension of the state of emergency in the North-east states of Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe. If approved by the lawmakers, the emergency rule will be in its fourth phase following two previous extensions. But many stakeholders of Adamawa State have opposed the extension, saying it has been a futile measure in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency. They allege that the emergency rule has been a conduit pipe for the siphoning of money and enrichment of some persons, who feed fat from the insurgency-related businesses, like the procurement of arms.
A Peoples Democratic Party chieftain in the state, Alhaji Yayaji Gombi, said the emergency rule had not yielded the desired results, alleging that some cabals are just using it to enrich themselves. He said it was during the emergency rule that many local government areas of the state were captured by the Boko Haram insurgents.
The PDP chieftain alleged that the political will and commitments to end the activities of the insurgent was lacking and said no matter the period of extension of the emergency rule the insurgents would continue to have a field day.
In a similar vein, Nyako spokesman, Mallam Ahmed Sajoh, said the first time the emergency rule was declared in 2013, Adamawa State had few cases of insurgency, stressing that the situation has become worse.
Sajoh said, “At the time the emergency rule was first pronounced in May 2013, we in Adamawa State had pretty little insurgency activities. Our school system was stable, our tertiary institutions were open and functioning, and no Adamawa territory was overrun by the Insurgents.
“We also had no Internally Displaced Persons or IDPs anywhere within Adamawa State. Today, all schools are closed down; one of the three senatorial districts is in the hands of the insurgents with a large chunk of the second under threat, while we have thousands of IDPs scattered all over the remaining portion of the state.
“Meanwhile, movement of persons within the state has been restricted and relationship curtailed. Under such circumstances, it is difficult to convince anyone living in states under emergency rule that the process is succeeding.”
Sajoh noted that under emergency rule and with sundry military and police checkpoints littered all over the roads and highways in the state, the insurgents drive through major roads to reach their targets and other destinations unchallenged.
“Even the night time curfews are needless because Mubi town was taken over in broad daylight, with soldiers withdrawing from battlefields in the name of tactical manoeuvre, and their barracks being captured.”
Support
The state governor, James Ngilari, has, however, voiced support for the extension of the state of emergency. His spokesman, Mr. PP Elisha, said the constitution had empowered the president to do the extension with the approval of the National Assembly, while the situation in the state necessitated it.