Three suicide bombers killed in Northern Cameroon

By Peter Kum

MAROUA, Cameroon (AA) - Three suicide bombers were killed on Tuesday morning near a market in Cameroon's Far North Region, military officials said.

"Suicide bombers including one man and two women who wanted to enter Double [small town in Cameroon's Far North Region] were stopped by Multi-National Joint Task Force and members of a vigilance committee," said General Bouba Dobekreo, commander of the joint military operation in the region.

He also indicated that the attacks did not cause any casualties. "Only the three suicide bombers were killed."

The general said the male and one of the female suicide bombers blew themselves up while another bomber was shot by the soldiers of the joint task force.

Governor of the Far North Region Midjiyawa Bakari told Anadolu Agency that the suicide bombers had a task to attack the Double market, which opens every Tuesday.

Bakari congratulated personnel of the task force and the members of the vigilance committee, who foiled the attack.

The country is part of a joint task force created by Lake Chad Basin countries -- Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Benin – that aims to eradicate the militant group that has so far killed more than 2,000 people in Cameroon, according to government officials.

The governor also called on the people of the region to be more vigilant.

Cameroon’s Far North Region has been severely affected by attacks, raids and kidnappings perpetrated by the Boko Haram militant group.

Approximately 26 million people in the Lake Chad region have been affected by the Boko Haram violence and more than 2.6 million displaced, according to UN Refugee Agency.