Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday ordered the Army to intervene in three states after a series of violent attacks by Boko Haram—despite his government’s recent promises that it was seeking a peace agreement with the militant Islamic group. Jonathan said troops would be “immediately” deployed to the three states, located in the northeastern portion of Nigeria, after he declared a “state of emergency” Tuesday. Jonathan called the recent attacks by Boko Haram akin to a “declaration of war.” The move is somewhat of a contradiction of the Nigerian government’s recent declarations that many Boko Haram fighters have been surrendering.