TheCable

On a day Nigeria and its neighbouring countries started a regional security summit in Paris, France, gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram militants have attacked a Chinese plant in Cameroon.

China is one of the countries offering to assist Nigeria in the rescue of hundreds of girls kidnapped from Chibok, Borno State, last month by the insurgents.

The plant, located in northern Cameroon, was attacked on Friday night, with several of their workers yet to be accounted for.

Reuters quoted the governor of Far North province, Augustine Fonka Awa, as confirming the attack.

The scene of the attack is close to the Nigerian border.

Boko Haram has hit Cameroonian targets in the past and Nigerian authorities believe the failure of Cameroon to police its borders is aiding the insurgents in their campaign of terror.

They are known to move freely between Nigeria and the neighbouring countries to launch attacks.

Some of the militants are even thought to be from Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

The summit in Paris is expected to iron out the details of a regional co-operation between Nigeria and her neighbours to tackle the insurgency.

Niger has already reached an understanding with Nigeria to carry out raids against the militants on her territory.

Chad and Cameroon are yet to make this concession, which is considered to be very critical in the war against the insurgency.

Cameroon and Nigeria do not enjoy the best of relations after the long-drawn battle over Bakassi, which Nigeria had to give up after a judgement by the International Court of Justice.