Ethnic group calls on Nigerian government to declare emergency in Borno State.

Text of report by Nigerian newspaper This Day website on 16 July

[Report by Kunle Akogun, Chuks Okocha, Michael Olugbode and John Shiklam: "Boko Haram: Igbo Leaders Demand State of Emergency"]

The pan-Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Friday called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in Borno State in order to checkmate the security threat posed by the Boko Haram insurgency.

Boko Haram, an extremist Islamic group, has virtually brought Borno State to a standstill, following series of bomb attacks targeting security agents and civilians.

The call for the imposition of a state of emergency in Borno State came on the day a fresh explosion by the extremist group injured five policemen in Maiduguri.

Lawmakers from the state, however, said in a statement that the use of force was not the solution to the crisis.

The Igbo leaders said following the receipt of a number of distress calls from their people in Borno on the deteriorating security situation there, an emergency meeting of Ime-Obi (Elders Council) of Ohanaeze Ndigbo was held and the decision to call for a state of emergency was adopted.

"We call on the President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, to as a matter of urgency declare a state of emergency in Borno State. This will in effect allow federal authorities to directly handle the situation on ground," they said.