Foiled suicide attack: 4 suspected terrorists arrested among refugees

A Cameroonian gendarme has arrested four suspected terrorists at the Minawao refugees’ camp on Tuesday evening, according to a security source leading a detachment in the Far North of the country, in the fight against Boko Haram.

According to information received, the 4 men, whose identities have not been revealed, were caught by a Cameroonian gendarme while attempting to attach explosives on some girls from the camp.

“The gendarme caught them when they tried to fasten the belts on the girls; perhaps, to explode later. It was revealed that the explosives were hidden in bags of rice sent to the camp. These refugees who were arrested arrived at the Minawao camp about a month ago,” said our source who was extensively interviewed by Koaci.

The 4 suspected terrorists were taken to the premises of the legion of gendarmerie, the source revealed. After their arrest, a security meeting involving the authorities, security forces and humanitarians was held to find ways of increasing surveillance in the Minawao refugee camp and other measures that have not yet been revealed on Wednesday evening.

Minawo refugee camp is located about 85 km from Maroua, the regional capital of the Far North. It has more than 32,000 Nigerian refugees who fled from the attacks of the Nigerian Islamist sect. After the last attacks in Maroua, the authorities have begun a routine search at the Minawao camp.

The country has sent military reinforcements in the region of the Far North. Another police detachment arrived on Thursday morning in Maroua.

The defense and security forces sent to Maroua are responsible for monitoring the movements of suspicious persons and sensitive places in this part of the country.

Maroua, still in shock after the last attacks, gets quiet at night. Drinking places are closed from 6pm and the streets get empty before night fall. As a reminder, the 3 attacks that struck Cameroon led to 48 dead and 123 wounded.