Cameroon Army Frees 24 Boko Haram Hostages

Cameroon’s army has freed 24 hostages kidnapped during a cross-border attack by suspected Boko Haram fighters based in neighbouring Nigeria, government officials said.

In their latest cross-border raid on Sunday, the Nigeria-based Boko Haram fighters seized at least 80 people in northern Cameroon, most of them women and children.

Cameroon Information Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakari told Al Jazeera that the Cameroon army was able to free at least 24 of the hostages on Monday.

“They were freed as defence forces pursued the attackers who were heading back to Nigeria,” defence ministry spokesman Colonel Didier Badjeck said.

The attack on Sunday occurred in the village of Mabass, in the Far North region, Bakary said. He said 80 houses were destroyed.

“We are dealing with barbaric people, lawless people,” Bakary said. “Nothing can prevent them from assassinating.” (read more)