State of Emergency may not last six months – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has told
the Secretary General of the United
Nations, Mr Ban Ki Moon that due to the
success so far recorded by troops
deployed to the North Eastern states of
Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, the state of
Emergency may not last for six months
as prescribed by the constitution.
In a meeting with the Secretary General
on the sideline of the Africa Union
conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Dr
Jonathan said the military operation in
the troubled states was going very well
and the military have strictly adhered to
the rules of engagement.
He explained that the successes
recorded by the military is exemplified
by the lack of collateral civilian
casualties, noting that the operation has
helped in creating a better relationship
between the civilian population and
members of the armed forces.
The president told the Secretary General
that government would do everything
possible to ensure that the civilian
population is not put through hardship,
adding that the rules of engagement
given to the military deployed in the
area is strictly adhered to by the
military.
He said governments's decision to
release women and children members of
the Boko Haram was in the spirit of the
rules of engagement of the operation.
Earlier in his remarks, the Secretary
General of the United Nations
sympathized with the government and
people of Nigeria over the activities of
Boko Haram, saying that Terrorism is a
global phenomenon that must be
confronted by the international
community.
He reiterated his call on the Nigerian
military engaged in operations in the
affected states where state of
emergency has been declared to be
prudent and cautious in protecting the
civilian population in the areas of
operation.