by Isi Esene

After a year of Emergency Rule in three states in North eastern Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan has sent in a request to the National Assembly seeking a 6 month extension to the state of emergency.

The Emergency Rule was declared in May last year following the worsening state of security in the three affected states, Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.

Jonathan’s request was read on the floor of the National Assembly earlier Tuesday morning.

Reactions to the emergency rule has been ambivalent with many positing that the rule has not made any remarkable difference while others consider it effective. Many are of the opinion that the frequency of attacks by the Boko Haram Islamic sect have been significantly reduced by the presence of men if the Nigerian Army on ground.

President Goodluck Jonathan had during the last Presidential Chat televised live nationwide hinted that his government will seek an extension of the emergency rule to maintain peace and effectively tackle the menace of terrorism in those states.

Both Chambers of the National Assembly would have to approve the request for the extension to be legally recognised.

About two thousand people have been killed in Boko Haram related attacks in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe this year.