A suicide bombing by a Boko Haram jihadist has
killed 11 people in northern Cameroon, a provincial
governor said Thursday, warning civilians not to
breach special security measures aimed at
preventing such attacks.
It was the latest in a spate of raids blamed on
the Nigeria-based Islamist militant group in the
area, which have driven tens of thousands of
people from their homes.
A security source said the attacker blew himself
up in the town of Djakana near the Nigerian
border overnight.
"Seven people were killed immediately, including the
bomber," the source said, adding that most of the
victims were members of a local vigilante group
tasked with hunting down Boko Haram fighters.
"They were gathered in a video room when the
attacker entered and triggered his explosives," the
security source said.
Midjiyawa Bakari, the governor of the region, told
AFP that 11 people had died and four had been
wounded.
Bakari slammed "the imprudence of the youths
running the video club," adding: "While such
activities are forbidden, they take risks in showing
films at night in the bush...
"We are asking on the local population to wait
until we give the go-ahead for the resumption of
such activities, especially on the frontline," he said,
referring to security measures put in place in the
area in the wake of Boko Haram raids.
Boko Haram's seven-year insurgency has left at
least 20,000 people dead in Nigeria and border
areas of neighbouring Niger, Chad and Cameroon,
and made more than 2.6 million homeless.
Some 2,000 Chadian soldiers are set to launch a
counter-offensive against the group in the region,
as part of a fightback by the four countries
targeted by the group.
From Vanguard ngr
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