Fight against Boko Haram: Ngaoundéré on alert

The city of Ngaoundéré has not yet witnessed attacks from the terrorist group ex-Boko Haram which became Islamic State in West Africa, but authorities in the capital of the Adamawa Region are aware that an attack could occur at any time.

This is the reason for which they have put in place some measures to prevent such possible terrorist attacks, as much as they can.

A reporter of La Nouvelle Expression (LNE) took a tour round the metropolis. In its Wednesday, October 7, 2010 edition, the newspaper informed that "the Ngaoundéré railway station had a tight security on Sunday, October 4, 2015. Not because of the entry and exit controls but because a hundred of young soldiers stationed there. At gunpoint, some had sunglasses; others had either gloves or cigarettes in their hand. However they secured the center of the station under watchful eyes.

Though LNE subsequently specifies that these soldiers, who are elements of the Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR) travelled to Maroua in the Far North, the private daily noted that security had been tightened around the Ngaoundéré station.

"A security measure surrounds the place and is designed to filter and control entries. This involves security officers armed with metal detectors, assisted by a barrier which funnels movements and submitting users to more or less scrutiny,” reported LNE.

The other security measure deals with cover fire, a measure that relates both to the movement of motorcycles as well as the opening of beverage. LNE wrote "the circulation of these two wheels gear after 10 p.m. is prohibited in the city of Ngaoundéré. Patrols aboard pick-up move around the city to watch out especially for offenders. The latter (in case of breach) are arrested while their vehicles are impounded. The curfew also concerns bars, snacks and nightclubs which must close between 12am and 2 am."

These measures sometimes cause gnashing of teeth among the population but have the advantage of minimising risk of terrorist attacks.