TheCable

The Cameroonian army says it has killed 86 Boko Haram militants and detained 1,000 people suspected to have links with the sect.

According to its Didier Badjeck, spokesman of Cameroon’s defence ministry, five Cameroonian soldiers were killed alongside 86 Boko Haram militants in the deadly clash in Waza, a border area with Nigeria.

Recently, Boko Haram, an insurgent group with roots in Nigeria, has widened its campaign to neighbouring countries with attacks on Chad, Niger and Cameroon.

In January, Shekau, the leader of the sect, threatened to kill Paul Biya,president of Cameroon, saying his troops could not do anything to the sect.

“Oh Paul Biya, if you don’t stop this your evil plot, you will taste what has befallen Nigeria,” Shekau said in Arabic in one of his numerous videos.

“If you do not repent, you will see the dire consequences. Your troops cannot do anything to us.”

In response, Biya vowed to “eradicate Boko Haram”.

In a meeting with some African leaders on Monday, he urged the international community to join hands with the region to fight the sect.

In the same meeting organised by the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the 10-member nations agreed to raise N1.5 billion (Euros 76 million) fund to fight the group.

A Cameroonian army official announced that more than 1,000 people suspected to be affiliated with the sect had been arrested and detained for investigation.

Niger, a member country in the regional force fighting Boko Haram has also revealed that it had arrested 160 suspects in Diffa region of the country.

Boko Haram is estimated to have killed more than 13,000 people since its widespread attacks started in Nigeria in 2009.