Boko Haram actions in Niger lead to emergency rule.

Boko Haram’s expansion towards other African countries should come as a surprise to nobody following Abubakar Shekau’s threats to do so. They have struck in Niger and the reaction by the Nigerien government has been to declare a 15-day state of emergency in the border region of Diffa.

This declaration has given troops in the region the power to search houses without warrants and furthermore, imposes a curfew.

The group also attacked Chadian army positions in north-eastern Nigeria on Wednesday but were repelled. A Chadian military official claims they had expected the attack and were waiting for it resulting in a very short battle.

Chadian troops are in Gambaru town in  Borno state after capturing it from Boko Haram last week.

Niger has been targeted by Boko Haram over the past week, with residents reporting a car bomb in Diffa town and assaults by militants on nearby town, Bosso.

The state of emergency gives Diffa’s governor power to introduce new restrictions without passing any laws.

The curfew will force residents to stay indoors between 20:00 and 06:00 local time (19:00 and 05:00 GMT).

Emergency rule was once employed in Nigeria’s north-eastern states of Yobe, Adamawa and Borno however that did not aid in shutting down Boko Haram. Shall this be different in Niger’s situation?