Deadly suicide attack hits Cameroon market
August 21, 2016
Officials said a man on a motorcycle detonated explosives early Sunday after riding into a market in the town of Mora, near the border with Nigeria.
Midjiyawa Bakary, the governor of Cameroon's Far North region, said three people plus the bomber were killed. Five other people were seriously wounded and airlifted to another town for specialized hospital care.
No one has claimed responsibility, although a security source cited by Reuters said authorities believe the attack was carried out by militant group Boko Haram.
Cross border attacks
The Nigeria-based jihadi group has staged frequent cross-border attacks in Cameroon and other countries in a bid to establish an Islamic caliphate in the region. At least 20,000 people have been killed and more than 2.8 million displaced since the group launched its insurgency in 2009.
Mora is home to the headquarters of a multinational force fighting Boko Haram. Troops from Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria and Chad make up the regional military campaign.
Last year Boko Haram pledged allegiance to the Middle East-based terror group "Islamic State."
nm/rc (Reuters, AFP, AP)