Boko Haram kills 8 in Yobe
The abducted wife of Cameroon’s Vice Prime Minister (VPM), Amadou Ali, has been successfully rescued by the country’s troops.
The victim, who was kidnapped with a community leader, Seini Boukar Lamine, by members of Boko Haram in the northern town of Kolofata on Sunday, was rescued in an operation that lasted for several hours and led to the death of 16 people, reported the Cameroon’s Information Minister, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who announced the operation, revealed that government was still investigating the abduction and rescue offensive to ascertain the actual number of people killed.
It would be recalled that Ali had escaped falling the victim of the insurgents on Sunday as he was rescued by security officials.
Boko Haram members have been carrying out attacks in the northern part of Cameroon from Sambisa Forest in Nigeria where they are said to have established their base. At least 16 people lost their lives in the rescue operation, reports say.
A local religious leader and mayor, Seini Boukar Lamine, was also kidnapped in a separate attack on his home. Three people were killed during the daring raid.
The Associated Press reported that Cameroon’s government has become increasingly involved in regional efforts to combat Boko Haram, despite warnings from the armed group to stay out of its fight with the Nigerian military or risk further attacks.
Boko Haram fighters clashed with the Cameroonian army in cross-border attacks twice since Friday, killing four soldiers.
Cameroon has deployed more than 1,000 soldiers along its border to help combat the Nigerian armed group.
A Cameroonian court, last week, sentenced 14 members of the sect to 20 years imprisonment after they were arrested with weapons in March around Marwa in northern Cameroon.
Meanwhile, another eight people have been reportedly killed in Katarko village in the outskirts of Damaturu, the Yobe state capital.
The killing, suspected to have been carried out by Boko Haram insurgents, allegedly blew off a bridge linking Damaturu to their stronghold – Buni Yadi, the capital of Gujba local government area of the state.
This enclave also connects Yobe, neighbouring Borno and Adamawa states.
Katarko is about 22 kilometres south of Damaturu. It is believed to serve as a veritable hideout of the insurgents.
Residents revealed to journalists that the insurgents, who stormed the town on Monday evening, initially descended on the military base before moving to some houses where they attacked and killed the civilians.
