With his finger on the trigger, ready to fire
his weapon in an instant, a policeman
keeps an eye on people passing in the
centre of Maroua, capital of Cameroon’s
Far North region that has been a target of
Boko Haram Islamists.
It’s been more than a year since a string of
suicide bombings by the jihadists — from
their stronghold in nearby Borno state in
northern Nigeria — tore through a bustling
central market and a bar last July, killing
33 people and wounding dozens more.
Security has been beefed up and there
have been fewer attacks, but the people of
Maroua still live in constant fear of another
surprise explosion in their midst.
It was in the popular neighbourhood of
“pont vert” (green bridge) that a young girl
last July 25 blew herself up — Boko Haram
increasingly uses female suicide bombers.
In this busy marketplace where vendors
sell the local beer “bil-bil”, snacks and
medicinal products, no one has forgotten
that day.
“We fear more suicide attacks,” says
Boukar Isma, who sells medicines on the
street.
He himself was hit by shrapnel during the
attack.
“There is still metal in my body,” he says.
Next to him an elderly man Siddi
Founaboui lifts his shirt to show two scars
from wounds on his stomach. “I can’t
stand up for long… Before, I did masonry
work, but I can’t do it any more.”
On Mondays there’s a livestock market in
Maroua, and police from a special rapid
reaction force are stationed at the two
entrances to the marketplace.
“We are here to secure the area,” says one
of them asking not to be named.
“Move on,” he says suddenly to a group of
shepherds chatting near an entrance. “We
watch to see that no crowds gather
outside the market,” he says.
Boko Haram, who want to establish a
caliphate in northern Nigeria, have been
waging an insurgency since 2009. Their
battle has spilled across the borders of
neighbouring countries which, including
Cameroon, have formed a regional force to
fight back.
One resident Kidmo Dobe sports a T-shirt
which says: “Homage to the victims of the
‘pont-vert’ attack, 25 July 2015.”
“It’s important not to forget,” he says.
“The war is not over.”
IHS Jane’s Terrorism and Insurgency
Centre (JTIC) says Boko Haram carried
out 22 attacks into Cameroon, Chad and
Niger in 2014 and 62 in 2015, when it
aligned with the Islamic State group.
There were 41 cross-border attacks this
year through the end of August. To
combat the jihadists the Multi-National
Joint Task Force of Nigeria, Cameroon,
Chad, Niger and Benin, has launched
operations in the Lake Chad region.
– ‘Not easy to forget’ –
When night falls in Maroua, police tell the
street vendors and shops to close. Even
those who like late night partying are
rarely out after 11:00 pm.
At Barmare, one of two places hit by
suicide bombers on July 22 last year,
Moustapha Sali survived the attack but lost
his right eye and his left hand is partially
paralysed.
The day of the explosion the father of
seven was sitting under a tree where
traces of the blast can still be seen.
“I’m afraid of another attack. It’s not easy
to forget what happened,” says the former
carpenter, who spent four months in
hospital.
“The attack completely changed my life.
Before I did everything. Now I don’t do
anything.”
Source: Punch ng
his weapon in an instant, a policeman
keeps an eye on people passing in the
centre of Maroua, capital of Cameroon’s
Far North region that has been a target of
Boko Haram Islamists.
It’s been more than a year since a string of
suicide bombings by the jihadists — from
their stronghold in nearby Borno state in
northern Nigeria — tore through a bustling
central market and a bar last July, killing
33 people and wounding dozens more.
Security has been beefed up and there
have been fewer attacks, but the people of
Maroua still live in constant fear of another
surprise explosion in their midst.
It was in the popular neighbourhood of
“pont vert” (green bridge) that a young girl
last July 25 blew herself up — Boko Haram
increasingly uses female suicide bombers.
In this busy marketplace where vendors
sell the local beer “bil-bil”, snacks and
medicinal products, no one has forgotten
that day.
“We fear more suicide attacks,” says
Boukar Isma, who sells medicines on the
street.
He himself was hit by shrapnel during the
attack.
“There is still metal in my body,” he says.
Next to him an elderly man Siddi
Founaboui lifts his shirt to show two scars
from wounds on his stomach. “I can’t
stand up for long… Before, I did masonry
work, but I can’t do it any more.”
On Mondays there’s a livestock market in
Maroua, and police from a special rapid
reaction force are stationed at the two
entrances to the marketplace.
“We are here to secure the area,” says one
of them asking not to be named.
“Move on,” he says suddenly to a group of
shepherds chatting near an entrance. “We
watch to see that no crowds gather
outside the market,” he says.
Boko Haram, who want to establish a
caliphate in northern Nigeria, have been
waging an insurgency since 2009. Their
battle has spilled across the borders of
neighbouring countries which, including
Cameroon, have formed a regional force to
fight back.
One resident Kidmo Dobe sports a T-shirt
which says: “Homage to the victims of the
‘pont-vert’ attack, 25 July 2015.”
“It’s important not to forget,” he says.
“The war is not over.”
IHS Jane’s Terrorism and Insurgency
Centre (JTIC) says Boko Haram carried
out 22 attacks into Cameroon, Chad and
Niger in 2014 and 62 in 2015, when it
aligned with the Islamic State group.
There were 41 cross-border attacks this
year through the end of August. To
combat the jihadists the Multi-National
Joint Task Force of Nigeria, Cameroon,
Chad, Niger and Benin, has launched
operations in the Lake Chad region.
– ‘Not easy to forget’ –
When night falls in Maroua, police tell the
street vendors and shops to close. Even
those who like late night partying are
rarely out after 11:00 pm.
At Barmare, one of two places hit by
suicide bombers on July 22 last year,
Moustapha Sali survived the attack but lost
his right eye and his left hand is partially
paralysed.
The day of the explosion the father of
seven was sitting under a tree where
traces of the blast can still be seen.
“I’m afraid of another attack. It’s not easy
to forget what happened,” says the former
carpenter, who spent four months in
hospital.
“The attack completely changed my life.
Before I did everything. Now I don’t do
anything.”
Source: Punch ng
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