Nigeria to extend state of emergency in three northeastern states

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan is to ask the country's National Assembly to extend a state of emergency in three northeastern states when it expires this week.

After a meeting of the National Defense Council chaired by President Jonathan, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke said a bill would be presented to parliament immediately.

Boko Haram has defied the state of emergency to continue its attacks and this week alone, is suspected to have carried out suicide bombings at two schools, a market and a petrol station.

President Jonathan ordered troops into Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states in May last year.

Several hundred people have died during a five-year-old insurgency in the region by the armed group Boko Haram and emergency laws were extended this month and again in May this year.

Source: Aljazeera