Boko Haram, the Islamic fundamentalist group, abducted the wife of deputy prime minister of Cameroon from Kolofata town of the country's northern region, officials confirmed Sunday.
The wife of Amadou Ali and her maid were kidnapped by the Boko Haram members in a "savage attack", Information Minister Issa Tchiroma said.
In a separate incident the same day, the militants abducted Seini Boukar Lamine, a local religious leader who is also the mayor of Kolofata, from his home. Three other people were killed in the attack.
The violence happened when Ali and the family were breaking Ramadan fast. However, the 71-year-old deputy prime minister escaped the attack and was taken to a neighboring town by his security personnel, a Cameroon military commander told Reuters. "The situation is very critical here now, and as I am talking to you the Boko Haram elements are still in Kolofata town in a clash with our soldiers," said Colonel Felix Nji Formekong, the second commander of Cameroon's third inter-army military region, based in the regional headquarters, Maroua.
Prior to this attack, Boko Haram clashed with the country's army twice since Friday and killed at least four soldiers.
Cameroon and Nigeria share the same borders making it easier for Nigerian-based Boko Haram to infiltrate the neighboring country. According to BBC, the porous border allows these militants to attack police stations and target villages. At least 20 militants of the group were imprisoned in Cameroon for illegal possession of firearms and conspiring for an insurrection.
The security at the Cameroon border has been stepped up with more than 1,000 soldiers positioned to fight against the fundamentalist group. Boko Haram is also accused of kidnapping 10 Chinese workers from northern Cameroon in May.
Boko Haram that translates into 'Western Education is Sin' has gained notoriety for carrying out various attacks in Nigeria. In April the group abducted at least 200 schoolgirls from Chibok village of Nigeria. The militants demanded the release of its members arrested by government officials in exchange of the girls. However, this demand was rejected. In another incident, Boko Haram abducted around 70 women and girls from Kummabza village of Borno State in April. But, two weeks later 63 captives managed to flee successfully.
