Boko Haram Attacks Leave Trail of Destruction in Northern Cameroon
The recent violence and kidnappings by suspected Boko Haram terrorists in Kolofata is not only spreading fear among residents but also threatening vital healthcare services in the region.
In the past week, communities in Kolofata in northern Cameroon, suffered from a fresh wave of violence and kidnappings as suspected Boko Haram insurgents launched multiple attacks on villages in the region.
The Kolofata district, which shares a border with Nigeria, has been a long standing target of the insurgents, who have exploited the porous borders to launch attacks on civilians.
Over the past three days, insurgents have abducted two children and an elderly man, looted homes, and set an entire village on fire, leaving at least three people dead, locals told HumAngle.
The attack occurred in Kerawa, a town in the Kolofata district, on Thursday. “The children went to herd sheep behind the trench near Camp BIR when armed men on motorcycles appeared and took them away. Their names are Hassan Boukar, aged between 10 and 12 years, and Baba Boukar, aged 10,” a local source told HumAngle in a telephone interview.
Another source told our reporter that the elderly man, identified as Boukar Zague, 65, was also among those abducted in Kerawa.
Later that night, another attack was carried out in the village of Sandawadjiri, also in the Kolofata district. Insurgents stormed the community at around 10 p.m., burning down homes and stealing livestock.
A resident who witnessed the attack described the devastation left behind, saying “the village of Sandawadjiri was attacked at 10 p.m. Almost half the village was set on fire. Three people were killed, two civilians and one Boko Haram fighter. Many houses were burned, and among the material losses were seven motorcycles, a tricycle, 17 sheeps, and all our food supplies,” the source told HumAngle.
These latest attacks have reinforced fears that Boko Haram remains a persistent threat in northern Cameroon, despite years of military operations aimed at weakening the group. Residents of Kerawa say their community has been at the frontline of violent incursions since 2014 when they were first attacked and displaced, and the situation is only getting worse.
A frustrated local called on political and community leaders to take action. “Since 2014, Kerawa has been at war against Boko Haram. Why are our local leaders not doing anything for our village? Why did the community security groups (COVI) stop working? People are no longer sleeping in their homes because they are afraid. Imagine what will happen when the rainy season arrives. We need urgent solutions,” the resident said.
The attacks have raised serious concerns about the security situation in the Kolofata district, particularly the government’s ability to protect vulnerable communities. With no immediate response from authorities, residents are left feeling abandoned and at the mercy of insurgents.
The fate of the abducted victims remains unknown, as locals await news of their whereabouts. Meanwhile, families in Kerawa and Sandawadjiri are struggling to recover from the destruction left behind, unsure if
The latest abduction of the two young boys and an elderly man follows a disturbing pattern in which children are forcefully recruited or used for ransom demands, while elderly individuals often face execution or are forced to surrender their wealth.
Hospital threatened
Hôpital de district de Kolofata located in Kolofata village is home to an essential eye medical service, providing specialised treatment for vision related ailments to communities across northern Cameroon and neighboring countries in the Lake Chad Basin like Nigeria, Chad, and Niger.
The facility serves as a regional hospital offering much needed medical care for eyes in a region where access to ophthalmic services is limited. However, the persistent insecurity caused by Boko Haram attacks has threatened the critical services of the health facility.
If violence and kidnappings persist, patients will be unable to travel for treatment, and medical personnel may be forced to flee, leaving thousands without access to life-changing eye care. The growing instability not only endangers the lives of residents but also risks depriving an entire region of vital healthcare services.
Communities in Kolofata, northern Cameroon, have faced another surge of violence and kidnapping by suspected Boko Haram insurgents.
Over the past week, raids resulted in the abduction of two children and an elderly man, along with home invasions and arson, killing at least three people.
These incidents underline ongoing fears about Boko Haram's impact despite military efforts, with substantial criticism directed toward local leaders for their inaction since the community first faced violence in 2014.
The persistent security threat has further jeopardized essential services like the Hôpital de district de Kolofata, which offers critical eye care to the region.
Continued instability risks hindering patients' access to treatment and forcing medical staff to abandon their posts, thus depriving northern Cameroon and neighboring areas of vital healthcare services.
Residents remain anxious and discouraged, waiting for news on the abducted individuals while having to rebuild their lives amidst a backdrop of inadequacy from authorities.
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