New security measures instituted in Maroua

Cameroonian security forces are mobilizing after the suicide attack of Saturday evening, July 25, in the town of Maroua in the Far North. An attack that left 21 dead and over 70 injured.

The city had been the target of a double bloody attack on Wednesday. A series of attacks that no one has still claimed responsibility but which, for all observers, would be the work of jihadist Islamic State group of West Africa, former Boko Haram.

Police operations have multiplied throughout the night after the suicide. Sweeps took place in the entire neighborhoods on identification of suspects by the population. Several arrests were made especially in the Balassa Township, about twenty kilometers from Maroua.

Police actions are being intensified as local authorities are awaiting a reinforcement of 300-400 gendarmes and police. They will help comb the city and search for concessions and conduct broad residential identification measures.

All households were ordered to report to neighborhood leaders with the full identities of their tenants. The illegal aliens will be automatically sent home.

Police and gendarmes will also target street children. They will no longer be tolerated in public. Besides the expected population information, the authorities have encouraged the proliferation of vigilance committees and prohibits meeting at places like bars and mosques, beyond 18h. In other words, Maroua is more than ever on alert.

To support the population faced with the growing threat of terrorism, the Government asked the population to help the police identify terrorists and suicide bombers among city dwellers.

Oumanou Moussa Sanda is a teacher in a school in Maroua and explains how people in his neighborhood organize to fight for their own safety. "The fight has truly become a popular one, a fight that concerns everyone. Search has started and the locals agree to identify all people. They began by identifying all the people who came into the city, who rented and live in a house. Today, even activities were reduced as I went through the market, half the shops did not open ... Another market remained closed when it is actually open every Sunday. There really is panic among the population!"

It won't be easy for the people to determine who might be a terrorist, explained Madi, another resident of Maroua. "In the city, there are lots of girls under 15 years. It will be difficult to detect since we can assume that every little girl was sent to the market by the mother or father. We cannot also know if they are members of Boko Haram. But for older people, it can be known. I take the case of the burqa, for example. The burqa was forbidden to wear in the extended territory in general. When I see a person wearing a burqa, I can denounce it. It is a rule established by the State of Cameroon. When I see that such is a member of the Boko Haram sect, I'll go to the police to report the person. We are willing to help the Cameroonian army find these terrorists, if possible! "