Double suicide bombing in Maroua, several dead

A double suicide bombing on Wednesday left several dead and many wounded in Maroua, capital of the far north of Cameroon, a region regularly targeted by Nigerian Boko Haram Islamist insurgents, according to local authorities.

Two girls aged "under 15 years" blew themselves up at the central market of the city and in the Hausa neighborhood, the governor of the region, Midjiyawa Bakari told AFP.

This double attack left several people dead and at least 22 injured, according to Mr. Bakari, who was however not yet been able to provide an accurate assessment. The facts were confirmed by another source close to local authorities.

At around 3:00 p.m. (1400 GMT), "two girls who were begging blew themselves", causing a dozen deaths, she said.

A Cameroonian journalist present in the city also reported the "double suicide" which left several dead. This is the second suicide attack in 10 days. On 12 July, two female suicide bombers blew themselves up at Fotokol, border town with Nigeria, killing 11 people including 10 civilians and one Chadian soldier.

For two years, Nigerian Islamist murderers embarked on series of kidnappings and raids in the Far North, but the suicide attacks on Cameroonian territory is unprecedented.

Cameroon is participating with several neighboring countries (Nigeria, Chad, Niger) in a regional military coalition established early in 2015 against Boko Haram.

Despite the joint military effort, the insurgents have stepped up the violence in the region of Lake Chad in recent weeks.