The Federal Government said on Wednesday that the state of emergency imposed on Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states would continue in spite of the ceasefire announced by the Boko Haram sect.
The Minister of Special Duties, Mr Tanimu Turaki, said this while fielding questions from State House correspondents in Abuja.
Turaki, who is also the chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North, had on Monday while speaking on Radio France International Hausa Service, announced the ceasefire deal by the sect.
He said the security agencies would determine whether or not normalcy had returned to the affected states.
‘’I think even with the declaration and announcement of ceasefire, I think the issue of the state of emergency will have to stay in such a way and manner when the security agencies are fully satisfied that normalcy has been restored and that there is order and peace.
“Because, let us not forget the fact that with or without this ceasefire, it is a serious and great responsibility of government to ensure that the lives and properties of law abiding Nigerians are protected wherever they are and in whatever circumstances.
“So, I think it is the situation that will begin to unfold themselves henceforth that will determine whether the security agencies on ground will relax the period of the curfew and then ultimately they will advise the appropriate authorities whether the need has arisen for the State of Emergency to be removed.
“But, I think that is not for the committee.”
Turaki also said the committee was working on a framework where both parties would sign an agreement which would be made public and transparent for all Nigerians to see.
On the recent killing of students in Yobe by the Boko Haram sect, the minister said the Boko Haram sect had confirmed (to his committee) that their members were not involved in the attack.
Commenting on how they arrived at the ceasefire agreement with the sect, Turaki said it was the result of a series of painstaking discussions with the leadership of the group.
“Basically they took into account, one; the sincerity of the committee which by necessary implication also the sincerity of the President regarding the resolution of the issue of insecurity in the North.
“Number two also, unlike their thinking that the committee was meant to serve as a trap for them, they also realised that not only is the committee very sincere, government and indeed Mr President is also very sincere about the whole discussions.
“They also took into account the fasting of the month of Ramadan which is on and felt that they should give peace a chance so that our Muslim sisters and brothers will be able to perform their religious obligation this month without any harassment, without any fear of any bomb exploding and any firing at them while they are in their places of worship.”
