Maroua Attacks: Cameroon counts her loss but stands like one man

While government reports 21 deaths and 85 injured, other press organs put the number at 25 and more than 80 injured.

The casualty in terms of numbers differ from one press organ to the other but the determination to fight the enemy is a convergent idea.

Never has Cameroonians pushed aside their political and social inclinations to face a common enemy.

Within the social media, networks have been created as a show of solidarity with the victims.

Sites like WhatsApp, Viber, and Facebook amongst others have been alternative channels by which Cameroonians express oneness with their brothers in the Far North and denounce terrorism.

Similar messages including “I am Maroua”, “Rest in Peace Maroua”, “I am Cameroonian army” and others keep circulating.

Through text messages, announcement in churches and in public gatherings, the population is being to stay vigilant.

Since Saturday the political quarrels have been relegated and even the most critical newspaper publications hammers on the need for everyone to adopt a common strategy in the face this ruthless criminals.

A concrete case of mobilisation was witnessed in Yaounde at the Tsinga neighbourhood last Saturday. Accused of belonging to the Boko Haram sect, two Europeans were virtually assaulted and were later saved due to the timely intervention of security forces.

During the assault, even the spiritual leaders at the Briquiterie neighbourhood in Yaounde did not believe the version of these men who confessed they were not carrying explosives.

In all ten regions of Cameroon, everyone is on high alert.

In spite of the inconveniences caused during the routine checks around strategic areas,most Cameroonians happily comply with the security requirements.

The Minister Delegate at the Presidency in Charge of Defence, Edgar Alain Mebe Ngo’o calls on Cameroonians to remain vigilant, he cautions that the war against terrorism needs to be fought at all levels.

To him the most efficient strategy in the fight is the gathering of intelligence.

Accordingly, all Cameroonians are being called upon to denounce any suspicious persons within their area.

After the second suicide bombing attack on 22 July 2015 in Maroua, Oeil de Sahel a publication most familiar with the war against boko Haram headlined “tous debut” translated to mean “let’s remain vigilant”.

It is the newspapers warnings that all have embraced. If the war against terrorism has not be won this far, the war in favour of solidarity is so far a guaranteed victory.