Cameroon beefing up security on its border with Nigeria on Boko Haram attacks
Cameroon has beefed up security along its shared border with Nigeria, by deploying troops in the border area, to prevent Boko Haram militants from getting into its territory.
This comes following
an escalation of Boko Haram attacks against Nigerian troops in different parts
of Nigeria.
Cameroonian military
authorities said the latest troop deployment along the northern border with
Nigeria was made against the backdrop of intensive Boko Haram attacks in the
area.
They added that they
have intelligence that hundreds of Boko Haram militants are hiding in the
border area with plans for attacks inside Cameroon.
The aim of the troop
deployment is to protect the border area, Cameroonian military authorities said
in a statement.
They added that they
had advised locals to practice caution and report any strangers to the
authorities.
Over 100 Boko Haram
militants had attacked a military base in the northern Cameroonian village of
Dabanga near the border with Nigeria, a senior official from northern Cameroon
said.
The attack left a
Cameroonian soldier dead and two others injured, the official added.
He noted, however,
that Cameroonian troops had repelled the attack, killed 20 attackers and seized
their arms.
The official warned
against potential attacks by Boko Haram militants against military camps in
Cameroon.
He said the Boko
Haram terrorists plan to steal foodstuffs and cattle from villagers in the
border area with Nigeria because they suffer a shortage of food, with the army
cutting off supplies to them.
