Boko Haram Kidnaps Cameroon Vice-Prime Ministers's Wife

The onslaught against Nigerians and even Camerounians by the Boko Haram terrorist group continued yesterday with two bomb blasts in Kano shattering the joy that comes with the end of the Ramadan fast by Muslim faithful.

This is just as the plague of incessant attacks spread beyond the Nigerian borders to Cameroun where the insurgents kidnapped the wife of the vice-prime minister, Mrs Amadou Ali, after three persons were killed.

The twin bomb blasts in Kano, one of which went off at St. Charles Catholic Church along Zungeru road in Sabon Gari and the other at Kofar Nasarawa in the metropolis, killed six people with eight others seriously injured.

According to Reuters the wife of the Camerounian vice-prime minister was kidnapped by the terror group in the northern town of Kolofata.
Also, at least three people were killed in the attack that led to the kidnap.
A local religious leader named Seini Boukar Lamine, who is also the town's mayor, was kidnapped as well, in a separate attack on his home.
Though there has not been any immediate claim of responsibility, the attack has all the trademark of Boko Haram’s affront, as the sect is believed to have stepped up cross-border attacks into Cameroun in recent weeks.

Cameroun had deployed troops in the region, joining international efforts to combat the militants.

“I can confirm that the home of Vice-Prime Minister Amadou Ali in Kolofata came under a savage attack from Boko Haram militants,” Issa Tchiroma told Reuters by telephone.

They unfortunately took away his wife. They also attacked the Lamido's residence and he was also kidnapped,” he said, and at least three people were killed in the attack.

A Camerounian military commander in the region told Reuters that the vice-prime minister, who was at home to celebrate the Muslim feast of Ramadan with his family, was taken to a neighbouring town by security officials.

“The situation is very critical here now, and as I am talking to you the Boko Haram elements are still in Kolofata town in a clash with our soldiers,” said Colonel Felix Nji Formekong, the second commander of Cameroun's third inter-army military region, based in the regional headquarters Maroua.

Yesterday's attack is the third in Cameroun since Friday, by the terrorists. At least four soldiers were killed in the previous attacks.
Meanwhile, some 22 suspected Boko Haram militants, who have been held in Maroua since March, were on Friday given prison sentences ranging from 10 to 20 years.

The increased tempo of attacks may not be unconnected with the prison sentence slammed on the insurgents by the Camerounian government