FG to lift state of emergency when normalcy returns – Minister

The Federal Government on Monday assured the United Nations that it will lift the state of emergency in three states as soon as normalcy returns in the areas.
The Federal Government on May 14 declared a state of emergency in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States in an attempt to check the activities of the Boko Haram terrorist sect.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olugbenga Ashiru, gave the assurance when he received Said Djinnit, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for West Africa, in Abuja.
Ashiru described the operation of the deployed military officials as an “open” one.
He said: “The military operations have been very open.
“The purpose of the operation is to defend the civilians and the people in those states affected.
“There is a mode of operation put in place and the military is there to ensure that there is no vacuum for terrorists groups to operate.”
He also told the UN special representative that there were no cases of human rights abuse since the declaration of a state of emergency in the states.
Earlier, the UN representative reiterated the resolve of the organisation to work with Nigeria in tackling terrorism.
Djinnit said: “UN is here to support the capacity of Nigeria to fight this scourge with respect to human rights.”
He said that the UN and Nigeria would further explore ways in which the proliferation of small arms and light weapons could be tackled.
He said that West Africa was a transit route for small arms and light weapons and called on all parties to cooperate in ensuring secure borders.