Cameroonian forces have freed a large number of hostages held by Boko Haram during military operations in the Far North Region, according to the Minister of Defence. The announcement was presented as one of the most significant blows dealt to the jihadist group on Cameroonian soil since the army stepped up its offensive along the border with Nigeria.
What the minister said
In a statement relayed by national media, the Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defence said the operation targeted Boko Haram positions in the border zone, where the group had been holding civilians abducted during raids on villages. Fighters were reported killed and weapons and other equipment seized. The hostages, many of them women and children, were taken to safety and handed over to the administrative and humanitarian authorities.
Independent verification of military statements in the Far North is difficult, as access to the combat zone is restricted. Journalists and humanitarian groups generally rely on official communiques and on testimonies collected once displaced people reach towns such as Mora, Kolofata or Maroua.
Who the hostages are
Boko Haram has abducted civilians on both sides of the border for years. Women and girls have been forced into marriage or labour, boys recruited as fighters, and some captives used as suicide bombers. Released hostages often arrive malnourished and traumatised, and many have lost track of their families.
After the rescue
Freed captives typically go through several steps before they can go home:
- Medical screening and treatment for wounds, illness and malnutrition
- Identification and security screening by the authorities
- Psychological support, especially for women and children
- Tracing of relatives, sometimes across the border in Nigeria
Humanitarian organisations have repeatedly called for screening to respect the rights of former captives and for communities to be prepared to receive them without stigma.
The wider fight against Boko Haram
Cameroon's army operates in the Far North both on its own and as part of the Multinational Joint Task Force that brings together troops from countries of the Lake Chad Basin. Military pressure has pushed the group out of several areas, but attacks on villages, kidnappings and suicide bombings have continued, showing that the threat is far from over.
Residents of the Far North welcome every hostage freed but also want lasting security, reopened schools and markets, and the return of displaced families. The success of operations like this one will ultimately be measured by whether communities can live without fear of the next raid.