MAIDUGURI, Nigeria, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- There are palpable fears among Christians residing in Nigeria's northeastern cities of Borno and Yobe as the three-day ultimatum given by the local militant sect expires on Wednesday.

Spokesperson of the Boko Haram sect Abu Qaqa on Sunday issued a three-day ultimatum to non Muslims and residents from the southern states of Nigeria living in north of the West African country to vacate the area or face the wrath of the group.

The warning has caused tension among the Christian residents as many feared the sect could make real its threat.

Madam Regina, a widow, told Xinhua in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, that she could not sleep in her house within the metropolis since Monday following the threat.

"I have moved to the military barrack with my two sons because the Boko Haram men could attack us. I have learnt not to take their threat with kid glove since they have never made empty threat. I'm really scared and everybody is thrown into confusion now," she said.

A Xinhua reporter who visited Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State, said the city has been deserted.

Fewer vehicles were seen on the major highway while Jerusalem ward, the Christian dominated area, has been deserted too.

Abu, a journalist who resides in the area, told Xinhua that many of the residents left shortly after the Dec. 24 attack by Boko Haram, the second to hit the city in weeks.

"Few people were left since December but many of the remaining residents here started fleeing on Monday following the sect warning to attack Christians," he added.

More troops have been deployed to the two states since Sunday after Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in 15 local government areas in the north.

But the two leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Borno and Yobe, Reverends Yuguda Mdurvwa and Ali Garba, urged Christians not to fear.

"This land belongs to all of us and no section or religion can claim to have control over any place," he said.

For Rev Ali Garba, residents ought to study the security situation in the area before fleeing.

"We should not panic and flee. We need to study the situation but more importantly, Nigerians should intensify their prayer for peace to return to the troubled area," the cleric said.

Meanwhile, the Yobe State government has said the state of emergency, declared by the federal government in five out of the state's 17 local government areas, is a welcome development.

State Governor Ibrahim Gaidam disclosed this in a statement issued to reporters in Damaturu, saying tackling the security challenges facing the country required bold and collaborative efforts.

According to him, long before the declaration of the state of emergency, the state government had worked closely with security agencies to ensure peace and security in the area.

He said the government would continue with this partnership by providing the necessary assistance to ensure a secure and peaceful environment.

The state of emergency is a security initiative which does not affect the structure of political governance in the state, he added.

The governor, therefore, calls on the public, especially people of the affected areas, to give maximum support and cooperation to the security agencies in their efforts to ensure peace and security.

There have been repeated clashes between Muslims mostly living in the north of Africa's most populous country and Christians whose majority is located in the south. Boko Haram gave a three- day ultimatum apparently in response to the state of emergency imposed in the north.