13 chiefs suspected to have ties with Boko Haram detained

Thirteen traditional rulers in Mayo Moskota subdivision in Mayo Tsanaga division, Far North region, suspected to have ties with Boko Haram are being detained at the National Gendarmerie in Mokolo following an arrest on December 29, 2014.

They were arrested on the instructions of the Senior Divisional Officer, Raymond Roksbo, SDO of Mayo Tsanaga.

The decision to arrest and detain the 3rd class chiefs for 15 days renewable was informed by sources that disclosed to the administration that, the said rulers were collaborating with elements of the Boko Haram group.

Security officials in Mokolo have been interrogating the traditional rulers on their links with the group since their arrest.

The SDO, Raymond Roksbo, signed a prefectorial order on December 29 to have the chiefs arrested, stating that he wanted to have clearance on the attacks and abductions carried out in the villages of Mayo Moskota and Nguetchewe where some religious leaders were seized by the armed group. Also, in the town of Achigachia where a Cameroon military camp was captured by Boko Haram in December.

It should be noted that the attacks orchestrated by the deadly group in Northern Cameroon have sometimes been blamed on some Cameroonians suspected to be informants to the Islamists. The outcome of the investigation on the traditional rulers will determine their fate.