16 die in an attempt to rescue vice PM’s wife

The abducted wife of Cameroon’s Vice Prime Minister, Amadou Ali, has been rescued from Boko Haram kidnappers.

She was kidnapped on Sunday, alongside a traditional ruler of Kolofata town in Cameroon. The rescue operation was carried out by soldiers from Cameroon in an operation that was reported to have lasted several hours.

According to Hausa Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation, 16 people died during the rescue operation. Cameroon’s Minister of Information, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, confirmed the release of the vice prime minister’s wife. Bakary assured all that the government was still investigating the number of casualties.

Meanwhile, some members of the deadly Boko Haram sect on Monday attacked Katarko village, in the outskirts of Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, killing eight persons and blowing off an important bridge.

Katarko is 22 kilometers south of Damaturu, Yobe State capital, and a community in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State, which is believed to be one of the strongest hold of the sect in the north-eastern state.

Residents told journalists on the telephone that the insurgents stormed the town around 7.30 pm, and attacked the military base before moving to some houses, where eight persons were killed.

One of the residents who claimed that the siege was on for over seven hours, told journalists on Tuesday that, “They came here and launched an unsuccessful attack on the military base before embarking on some selective killings within the town leaving eight dead.”

He said the insurgents stormed the town around 7.30 pm and launched an attack until 2.30 am without any form of resistance.

It was also gathered that during the siege, the insurgents blew off the Katarko Bridge linking Damaturu to their stronghold; Buni Yadi, the headquarters of Gujba Local Government Area of the state. This area connects Yobe and neighbouring Borno and Adamawa states, all under emergency rule as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency.

This is the first time Boko Haram militants have attacked Katarko, since the commencement of their hostility in 2009.

In a similar report, two suspected members of the sect had been arrested in Damaturu metropolis for being in possession of Improvised explosive devices. They are believed to have had the intention of causing havoc in the town.

Although authorities declined comment on the arrest, residents confirmed that the suspects were arrested at separate locations within the metropolis with the devices.

They claimed that the first arrested insurgent gave out information on the second hoodlum, who was later picked up at another part of the town.