Nigerians not fleeing to Niger Republic, presidency says

[PeoplesDaily]

President Goodluck Jonathan has faulted reports that Nigerians were fleeing to Niger republic at the wake of the emergency rule in Boro, Adamawa and Yobe states.

"The bulk of those displaced to neighbouring Niger are nationals of that country who are simply retuning home," the President said in a statement yesterday by his spokesperson, Doyin Okupe.

According to the statement, "also, contrary to a report in some media that 8,000 Nigerians were fleeing to Niger Republic as a result of the emergency rule, the National Emergency Management Agency and the Borno State government have confirmed that only 126 Nigerians have so far been displaced by the operations and that the bulk of the refugees referred to in the report were Nigeriens returning to Niger."

The Statement described the President's decision to declare state of emergency in the three states as "timely, effective and strategically unassailable" as it was clear the war on extremist fighters responsible for thousands of deaths, was being won.

"That success, to a large extent, was possible with the cooperation of residents who have reportedly taken upon themselves to hunt insurgents and turn them over to security offices," it said.

The statement denied media reports that thousands of Nigerians were fleeing to Niger, to escape harsh tactics by soldiers sent to Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states under the emergency rule he declared a month ago.

The statement applauded the role of some Borno state youths in their efforts at exposing the insurgents in that area as he described them as "heroes."

"Without doubt, these youths are the new national heroes who have risen up to the occasion in an unprecedented patriotic fashion to work together with their government by going after their tormentors.

"This is heart-warming and clearly indicative of an awakened consciousness of civic responsibility," the president said.

The President launched attack on critics who condemned the emergency declaration and his recent proscription of Boko Haram and Ansaru.

"The results have proven that the opposition political leaders who opposed the decision on the emergency rule as well as the proscription of terrorist groups are actually clueless and unfortunately blinded by their political pursuits," the statement said.

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