ABUJA: The state of emergency imposed in northeastern Nigeria to crush Boko Haram militants has ended, the lower house of Parliament said Thursday, announcing that it had rejected a government request to extend the special powers.

The development came on a day that saw police fire tear gas inside the Parliament building, apparently targeting the speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, who defected to the opposition last month.

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday asked lawmakers in the lower house and Senate to approve an extension of the 18-month emergency rule in three northeastern states: Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.

He said the move was needed to sustain the pressure against Boko Haram.