File Photo: Members of the Nigerian militant group Boko Haram. (Agence France-Presse)
Yaounde:
Cameroon's army has freed 24 of some 80 hostages kidnapped during a cross-border attack by suspected Boko Haram Islamist fighters based in neighbouring Nigeria, a defence ministry spokesman said on Monday.
The kidnapping, which occurred in the north of Cameroon on Sunday around the village of Mabass, was one of the largest abductions on Cameroonian soil. Many children were among the hostages.
"The Cameroon army was able to free about 24 hostages taken yesterday by Boko Haram in the far north. They were freed as defence forces pursued the attackers who were heading back to Nigeria," said ministry spokesman Colonel Didier Badjeck.
Boko Haram has killed thousands of people and kidnapped hundreds in its bid to carve out an Islamic state in northern Nigeria. In recent months, it has targeted Cameroon and Niger as it seeks to expand its zone of operations.
At the weekend, neighbouring Chad deployed troops to help Cameroon in its efforts to tackle the insurgency in the area.
In New York, the UN Security Council condemned Boko Haram on Monday, warning that some of its actions may amount to crimes against humanity.
"Those responsible for all abuses and violations of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law must be held accountable," the 15-nation council said in a statement.
The Security Council welcomed a regional meeting scheduled for today in Niger on the problem of Boko Haram and urged countries involved to press ahead with planning for a multinational military task force aimed at neutralizing the group.
The kidnapping, which occurred in the north of Cameroon on Sunday around the village of Mabass, was one of the largest abductions on Cameroonian soil. Many children were among the hostages.
"The Cameroon army was able to free about 24 hostages taken yesterday by Boko Haram in the far north. They were freed as defence forces pursued the attackers who were heading back to Nigeria," said ministry spokesman Colonel Didier Badjeck.
Boko Haram has killed thousands of people and kidnapped hundreds in its bid to carve out an Islamic state in northern Nigeria. In recent months, it has targeted Cameroon and Niger as it seeks to expand its zone of operations.
At the weekend, neighbouring Chad deployed troops to help Cameroon in its efforts to tackle the insurgency in the area.
In New York, the UN Security Council condemned Boko Haram on Monday, warning that some of its actions may amount to crimes against humanity.
"Those responsible for all abuses and violations of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law must be held accountable," the 15-nation council said in a statement.
The Security Council welcomed a regional meeting scheduled for today in Niger on the problem of Boko Haram and urged countries involved to press ahead with planning for a multinational military task force aimed at neutralizing the group.
© Thomson Reuters 2015
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