Far North Raid: No hostages were taken – Official

Rumors that first suggested that more than a hundred persons were abducted by Boko Haram on Monday night have been debunked by official sources.

Several attacks took place between Monday and Tuesday. Two in Tchakamari, near the Cameroon and Nigerian border, and another at Kangaléré village. In total, the attackers killed eight people, an assessment confirmed by a Cameroonian official source on Wednesday, August 5 in the evening.

According to the same source, 145 people fled the scene. The source made it clear that these people were not held hostage as suggested by other security sources. The proof is that, dozens of villagers were already back; probably reassured by the presence of BIR at the village on Tuesday morning.

These attacks have not yet been attributed to anyone. But for the authorities, they bear the mark of the Islamic State of West Africa, formerly known as Boko Haram. One of their members was also killed in the attack. In recent weeks, the terrorist threat had focused mainly on Fotokol and Maroua. Recent events showed that the terrorist group is still active at the border.

"Their strategy today is not to seek a frontal combat with the army. But rather to conduct highly targeted attacks to re-strategize as was the case in Tchakamari,” said an expert in the region