Nigeria leader declares state of emergency

ABUJA (AFP) - Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday declared a state of emergency in areas hard hit by violence blamed on Islamist sect Boko Haram and announced the closure of part of the country's borders.

"While the search for lasting solutions is ongoing, it has become imperative to take some decisive measures necessary to restore normalcy in the country especially within the affected communities," Jonathan said in a nationwide broadcast.

"Consequently, I have... declared a state of emergency in the following parts of the federation," he said, listing parts of the states of Plateau, Yobe, Borno and Niger.

Jonathan also said he had "directed the closure of the land borders contiguous to the affected (areas) so as to control incidences of cross-border terrorist activities".

He said the measures were necessary "as terrorists have taken advantage of the present situation to strike at targets in Nigeria and retreat beyond the reach of our law enforcement personnel."