10 killed in Nigeria-Cameroon border attack

At least 10 people were killed in an attack carried out by Boko Haram fighters in Gamboru, a Nigeria- Cameroon border town in Borno State, a security source said Thursday.

The attack was carried out on Wednesday, barely three weeks after Boko Haram fighters were dislodged by Chadian soldiers on regional cooperation, said the security source who pleaded for anonymity.

Some Cameroonian soldiers moved to repel the attack but not after the 10 people had been killed, the source said, noting the incident occurred at exactly 4:50 p.m. local time.

A local resident named Mohammed Gaji told Xinhua that the casualties were recorded in Foyi and Ngala communties near Gamboru. More residents might have been killed during the gun fight between Cameroonian soldiers and the terrorists, he added.

Wednesday's attack occurred as Nigerian forces pushed out Boko Haram fighters from most of the communities initially captured and occupied by the insurgents ahead of Nigeria's March 28 presidential poll.

Goodluck Jonathan, the Nigerian president, who is seeking re- election in next week's presidential poll canvassed votes on Thursday from electorates in Damaturu, capital of the neighboring Yobe capital, promising to end insurgency in the Africa's most populous nation.

"As I speak, I am happy to announce that Yobe State has been freed of Boko Haram as all territories earlier under the control of the sect have been recaptured by our able troops," he said at the campaign rally.

Boko Haram seeks to enshrine the Islamic Sharia law in the constitution of Nigeria.