President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria has directed a massive deployment of heavy armed military personnel to combat militant group Boko Haram in 3 northern state of the country.

The 3 states to receive this heavy military deployment include Yobe, Borno and Adamawa. These 3 states have seen series of deadly attacks by Boko Haram in recent weeks which compelled president Jonathan to declare state of emergency in the 3 states on Tuesday.

The statement from the Ministry of Defence said the drive was aimed at “asserting the nation’s territorial integrity” and “enhancing security”.

Local reporters say the declared state of emergency by President Jonathan will aim at asserting the nation’s territorial integrity from the militants.

The operation will focus on enhancing security of governmental structures after the president said attacks on government buildings and killings of officials and other civilians amounted to a declaration of war.

Presidential spokesman Doyin Okupe told the BBC African Service that the military will be targeting the militants in the borders of the 3 states order to curb their activities.

“We’ve had a lot of problems [of] border crime, and criss-crossing of the border by the insurgents, and there’s also evidence that some of the insurgents really are non-Nigerians, as long as the terrorists can go in and out unchallenged, then we’re in big trouble,’’ Mr. Okupe said.

Some residents in the 3 northern states have expressed their worry about the heavy presence of the military. The army has been accused before of carrying out brutal acts and killings against civilians in a similar operation in January this year by local residents.

“We are really terrified… Even though the state governor has not been removed, which is good, the truth is that Maiduguri is now a garrison town, full of angry soldiers who are ready to kill at the slightest provocation,’’ an anonymous resident told reporters.

Boko Haram, whose name means “Western education is forbidden” in the local Hausa language, is fighting to overthrow the government and create an Islamic state in the north.

President Goodluck Jonathan had wanted to grant an amnesty to Boko Haram by setting up a committee to look into the affairs on how a peaceful dialogue can be achieved.

But the recent attacks by Boko Haram for the past two weeks which has caused several lives to be lost leaves the government with no alternative than to resort to force.

Issaka Adams / NationalTurk Africa News

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