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Niger renews state of emergency in Diffa region over Boko Haram threat

Xinhua, March 26, 2015 Adjust font size:

Nigerien Parliament on Wednesday unanimously renewed the state of emergency in Diffa region for three more months to keep off Boko Haram fighters.

The state of emergency in the region had initially been declared for 15 days on Feb. 10, 2015 through a presidential decree, and then extended for three months through a law adopted by parliament on Feb. 27.

Wednesday's renewal was meant to give greater flexibility to public authorities as they address the Boko Haram menace.

Niger's Interior Minister Hassoumi Massaoudou said "every three months, the government will be submitting to Parliament a request for renewal of a state of emergency in the concerned areas in case of necessity."

Since Feb. 6, Nigerien localities of Bosso and Diffa, all bordering Nigeria, have come under repeated attacks from Boko Haram terrorists who have been operating from their camps in Nigeria.

On March 8, the Nigerien army supported by Chadian troops, carried out a major offensive that resulted in killing of over 500 Boko Haram fighters and liberation of Nigerian towns of Doutchi and Damasak, the sect's strongholds. Endi