Boko haram Dares Cameroon

The Nigerian Islamic sect, Boko Haram, has
threatened to strike in Cameroon if it
continues to
meddle in its conflict with the Abuja
Government.

The warning is contained in a strongly
worded letter
reportedly written in Arabic by frontliners of
the
Islamic sect.
According to the French language weekly,Le
Septentrion, that covers the three Northern
Regions,
the letter states that Boko Haram does not
have any
problem with the Cameroon Government, but
would
be forced to strike if it continues to detain
their
members.

The threats came in the wake of
allegations that elements of the sect
were entering Cameroon at will because of
the porous
border between Cameroon and Nigeria in
the
Northern Regions. That is why it was easy
for
elements of the sect to kidnap French
nationals in the
Far
North Region last year at very short
intervals.

In a reaction to the press, the Lamido cum
Mayor of
Banyo in the Adamawa Region, Mohaman
Gabdo
Yaya, said the threats from Boko Haram are
real. He
remarked that the Northern border line
Cameroon
shares with Nigeria is very porous. To him,
the
situation is even more complicated because
there are
tribes in Cameroon that extend across the
borders to
Nigeria.

He said it was time for religious leaders in
the
Northern Regions to mobilise and ward off
the
infiltration
of Boko Haram within the local
communities in the area.
The Lamido took exception
to the Boko Haram philosophy, saying what
they are
doing has nothing to do with Islam. He took
exception to claims that Islam is a religion
of
intolerance, violence and extremism.

Nowhere in the
Koran, he went on, is it stated that force be
used to
convert people into Islam.
Meanwhile, a source that spoke to The Post
on
condition of anonymity from Mokolo in the
Far
North, said there are many Boko Haram
elements in
the Region. “When they are chased away by
the
Nigerian police they run across the borders
to live
with their relatives in Cameroon. And it is
usually
very difficult for their relatives to expose
them to the
administration,” he stated.

In an exclusive interview with The Post
recently, Far
North Governor, Augustine Fonka Awah,
admitted it
will be an uphill task identifying Boko Haram
elements in the Region because the people
don’t wear
any uniform and they do not have any
identification
marks. He appealed to the local communities
to
remain vigilant and report any suspicious
individuals to the administration.
The Governor said the fight against the
infiltrations
of Boko Haram depends very much on the
collaboration and good faith of the local
population.

Meanwhile, many Boko Haram suspects are
said to
have been caught in the dragnet of the
security
around the borders in the Far North. The
Post learnt
that many of such elements were arrested in
Maroua
and Amchide border area in the Mayo Sava
Division
of the Far North.

Boko Haram that has wrecked havoc in
neighbouring
Nigeria is fighting for the imposition of
Islam in the
country. They have been spreading the
fallacy that
Western education is bad in all aspects.
There are
disturbing reports that the sect is gradually
making
Cameroon their refuge and hub centre