Boko Haram: Read how desperate Cameroon turns to mobs to fight jihadists
– Cameroon remains on the frontline of the fight against Boko Haram
– The country’s military has faced increased casualties as the terrorists change their tactics
– Local vigilante groups are now being used to contain Boko Haram
About 50 vigilantes sing and dance to war songs as they prepare to venture into Cameroon’s northern frontline with Boko Haram.
They know the terrain to their finger tips, and are capable of outmaneuvering the terrorists.
They wield different versions of handmade machetes, a few Kalashnikovs, and anything they could use to terrify their enemies.
Since their inception, they have had some amount of success fending off an already weakened Boko Haram.
Cameroon is increasingly relying on vigilantes to combat Boko Haram
By giving the vigilantes motorbikes and bicycles, Midjiyawa Bakari, who is the governor of Cameroon’s Far North region, told DW that he hopes they can track down unwanted visitors.
“After a long period of time spent encouraging people to contribute to the fight against Boko Haram, the inhabitants of villages bordering Nigeria have been joining these self-defense groups in large numbers,” Bakari said.
“Those members that died protecting Cameroon did not lay down their lives in vain. Their country will always remember and honor them.”
After losing swatches of territory, Boko Haram has resorted to carrying out lone wolf suicide attacks and is now planting landmines across the Cameroon-Nigerian border.
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As a result, Cameroon’s army is suffering heavy casualties and cannot keep track of the jihadists.
The government hopes that with local expertise and very mobile vigilante groups, the movement of the militants can be tracked.
In Kolofata, a Cameroonian border town which has been hit several times by Boko Haram, an armed vigilante, Fon Godlove, is cruising on his brand new 125cc motorbike.
“This motorcycle will take me to anywhere I want to go,” Godlove proudly said.
The death toll suffered by Cameroonian soldiers is continuing to rise
The primary school teacher joined a vigilante group last year because he was tired of running away from Boko Haram.
He is aware of the dangers of confronting gun-toting militants, armed to the teeth, with crooked and rusty machetes, however he said he is not afraid to confront them anywhere.
His new motorbike will make his work much easier, he said.
“Whether the road is bad or good, I am able to go with the motorcycle. It can take me anywhere – un-tarred roads, hilly places, valleys, deserts,” Godlove added.
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As the vigilantes received their motorbikes, Kolofata resident Dr. Awah Sadjo was among the group of onlookers.
She said she understands the reasons for making the youths mobile.
“The military cannot be everywhere,” Sadjo said.
Sadjo lost several members of her family during Boko Haram attacks in 2015.
Vigilantes like these are being used more often to fight Boko Haram
“We feel more secure when there are self defense groups at work. Now that they have been given motorcycles and weapons to facilitate their work, I feel happy.”
Another Kolofata resident, Hamadikou Falama, said Cameroon is reporting fewer casualties thanks to the vigilantes.
“Last week we detected three strange teenage boys in the town and when some of our members went to search them, the strangers refused to collaborate,” Falama said.
“After using force, we discovered they had explosive devices that they were planning to install on our roads. One of them unfortunately escaped, but we arrested the two.”
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