Terrorists Shift Focus, Now Attack Military Positions In Cameroon’s North Region – Governor

The Governor of Cameroon’s Far North Region, the most affected region by the Boko Haram insurgency, has revealed that since the death of their leader, Abubakar Shekau, the terrorists have shifted their attacks from the civilians to military positions.

“With the death of Shekau, Boko Haram has been replaced by the Islamic State and the Islamic State has changed strategy,” Governor Midjiyawa Bakary said on Monday, Oct. 4, at the opening session of the 3rd Forum of the Lake Chad Basin Commission.

“They rather attack military bases because they want to create a state between Nigeria, North Cameroon, and the Central African Republic.” 

Governor Bakary revealed that clashes between the Cameroon defense and security forces and Boko Haram terrorists have diminished to a record low since the Boko Haram troubles began about 10 years ago.

The Yaounde meeting brought together Governors from member states of the Lake Chad Basin commission namely Cameroon, Nigeria, Chad, and Niger most affected by the Boko Haram insurgency. 

The officials are in Yaounde to reflect on the security challenges and come up with ways and means of definitively routing the Boko Haram terrorist sect from the zone as well as make proposals for the reconstruction of the regions impacted by the terrorist activities.

According to the Governor, “The situation in the Far North region is getting normal security-wise. We would not hope for anything else rather than the amelioration of the living conditions of the populations and their sustainable development.”

“Insecurity is already behind us. We are hoping that after this meeting, our donors would support the government in view of what has already been done because the damage done by Boko Haram during the course of the past eight to ten years has been enormous. We would have to restart everything.”

The Governor revealed that the government of Cameroon has decided on a reconstruction plan for the Far North region which would cost a global sum of 1,810 billion FCFA (about $3.6 billion).

During the current meeting of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, discussions would be centred on the reinforcement of cooperation between the military and civilians populations, between the member states of the Commission, governance and above all, aspects linked to humanitarian assistance to the affected populations in the four countries.