Nigeria enters 2012 in a state of emergency to combat spiralling violence

LAGOS // Nigeria began the new year overshadowed by a state of emergency declared in areas hit by Islamist attacks, as it seeks to end spiralling violence that has shaken Africa's most populous nation.

President Goodluck Jonathan's declaration on Saturday gives security agencies more powers to search and arrest, seals off borders in hard-hit areas and establishes a military counter-terrorism force.

The declaration comes in response to scores of attacks blamed on Islamist group Boko Haram, particularly a wave of bombings on Christmas Day that killed 49 people, most in a blast at a Catholic church as services were ending.

While Boko Haram has been carrying out increasingly deadly attacks for months, including an August suicide bombing of UN headquarters in Abuja that left 25 dead, the Christmas violence sparked intense fear and outrage.

It also led to warnings from Christian leaders that they would defend themselves if such attacks continued, raising deep concern in a country roughly divided equally between a mainly Muslim north and predominately Christian south.

In declaring the state of emergency in Africa's largest oil producer, Mr Jonathan acknowledged that the attacks "have threatened our collective security and shaken the foundations of our corporate existence as a nation".

Mr Jonathan said in a nationwide broadcast that "it has become imperative to take some decisive measures necessary to restore normalcy in the country especially within the affected communities".

"Consequently, I have ... declared a state of emergency in the following parts of the federation," he said, listing parts of the states of Borno, where Boko Haram traditionally has its base, as well as Yobe, Niger and Plateau.

Earlier on Saturday, he visited the church where the bloodiest Christmas attack occurred and branded Boko Haram a "cancerous" group bent on destroying Nigeria while vowing it would be crushed.

The measures and rhetoric marked a sharp change for Mr Jonathan, who has come under mounting criticism over the authorities' failure to stop the violence.

Many of his previous pronouncements sought to minimise the attacks and reassure the country that the violence was only temporary and would soon be brought to an end despite near daily shootings and bombings.

It was not clear whether the emergency declaration had taken immediate effect. Mr Jonathan said the proclamation would be sent to parliament when it reconvenes after the holidays.

While some welcomed the declaration following months of violence, others raised concerns that it would provide legal cover for soldiers to carry out further abuses.

A military task force in Borno state has been accused in recent months of killing civilians and burning homes after bomb attacks, claiming residents collaborated with the extremists.

"The declaration of a state of emergency by the federal government will not stop or reduce the spate of violence across the affected areas, but will simply be a blank cheque for human rights violations by security agents," said northern-based rights activist Shehu Sani.

"Civilians will continue to be at the mercy of the military and the militants. Dialogue still remains the valid option to end this bloodletting."

In a sign of the challenges facing Nigeria, some 50 people were killed in clashes between two neighbouring communities in southeastern Ebonyi state on Saturday, a government spokesman said, but the clashes were not linked to attacks by Boko Haram, he added.

Ebonyi police yesterday estimated the death toll at between 38 and 40.

Hundreds of people have been killed this year alone in attacks blamed on Boko Haram, most in the north-east.

An early version of the group formed in 2004, though it has taken on different forms since that time. It launched an uprising in 2009 put down by a brutal military assault which left some 800 dead.

While Boko Haram initially sought the creation of an Islamic state in the north of Nigeria, a number of people have since claimed to speak on its behalf and issued a range of demands.

It is believed to have several factions, including those with political links as well as radical Islamist cells.

There has been intense speculation over whether it has formed links with outside extremist groups, such as Al Qaeda's north African branch.