STATE OF EMERGENCY: BAN ON MOBILE PHONES LIFTED IN ADAMAWA STATE

The ban on mobile telephones in
Adamawa - one of three states under
state of emergency - has been lifted.
According to a report in the Calgary
Herald, Nigeria's Defense Ministry has
authorized the restoration of cellphone
services in the northeastern state.
However a statement on Thursday
gave no indication when phone
services might be restored in Yobe and
Borno states, where Islamic militants
have attacked schools and killed
dozens of students.
The statement said the decision follows
"positive indications" in the security
situation. The military said extremists
were using cellphones to plan and co-
ordinate attacks. Landline telephones
do not work in Nigeria outside of the
capital, Abuja. Attempts to call
Adamawa weren't immediately
successful.
Cellphone and Internet services in the
three northeastern states have been
suspended since a state of emergency
was declared on May 14 to halt the
Islamic uprising that poses the
greatest security threat in years to
Africa's biggest oil producer.