23 Killed In Cameroon As Boko Haram Continues Jihad Rampage

On Sunday, July 19, Boko Haram, the West Africa Province of the Islamic State, attacked the city of Kamouna in Cameroon and killed 23 residents. Nine of the 23 were students who were burned to death and left in the nearby bush.

At the time of the attack, only seven Cameroonian soldiers were stationed in the city, despite residents’ request of the government that more protection be sent in light of a raid last week of a nearby village suspected to be the work of Boko Haram. Additional protection was denied, and the seven soldiers present were easily overrun by the 80+ jihadists who took part in the assault. According to Nigerian news:

The “UN’s agency for refugees (UNHCR) said in a report that there have been 18 recorded attacks by Boko Haram in northern Cameroon in 2015 alone…”

Nigerian-based Boko Haram has increased attacks on Cameroon after the country joined an anti-Boko Haram coalition that includes Cameroon, Nigeria, and Chad. The US has pledged $5 million to aid the coalition, and France has given military assistance and access to their airbase in the Nigerian capital of N’Djamena.

The coalition has undoubtedly seen success, killing hundreds of Boko Haram militants and forcing many out of the Sambisa Forest in northeastern Nigeria. While this is a good start in the fight against defeating Boko Haram, there is still much work to be done.

If Nigerian President Buhari wishes to fulfill his campaign promise of implementing a significantly stronger force against Boko Haram than former president Goodluck Jonathan, action must be taken sooner than later.

President Buhari began a four-day visit to Washington, DC to meet with President Obama. The two presidents reportedly “discussed Boko Haram and noted the US commitment to working with Nigeria to help counter ‘disruptive terrorist activities’”. There was also talk about the necessity of the Nigerian government “to improve its human rights record.”

As previously discussed on Free Fire, “the Obama Administration’s embrace of Buhari as he undertakes to defeat Boko Haram is hypocritical in its timing, but nonetheless necessary.”

There is a dire need for meaningful progress and cooperation between all countries involved in this coalition against the jihadist militant group. Boko Haram’s Jihad must be halted.