Nigerian Senators meeting behind closed doors have overwhelmingly voted to support the state of emergency imposed on three north-eastern states by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The Nigerian leader had in a nationwide broadcast exactly a week ago announced the imposition of a state of emergency on Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states in a bid to crush the Boko Haram insurgency that has cost Africa’s most populous nation some 4,000 lives since 2009.

Following the President’s action, thousands of Nigerian troops were deployed to the affected states and have successfully dislodged the insurgents, killing many and taking hundreds hostage.

Though Jonathan requested the Nigerian Senate to approve the action, it could not meet until today.

A source said that all 100 senators who were presented voted to support President Jonathan’s action. The other nine senators were said to be away on national assignment.

•Photo shows Senate President David Mark.