Militant Attack on Cameroonian Soldiers Raises Boko Haram Concerns

At least 12 Cameroonian soldiers were killed in an attack by Islamic militants near Nigeria. Suspected Boko Haram extremists are believed to be responsible. The conflict, originating in Nigeria, has affected neighboring countries and significantly impacted civilians, with thousands killed and millions displaced.

A deadly ambush by Islamic militants on the border with Nigeria claimed the lives of at least 12 Cameroonian soldiers Monday night, according to a statement by the Ministry of Defence in Cameroon.

The attack, which also left over a dozen soldiers wounded, took place in the Lake Chad region near Wulgo. Initially, no group claimed responsibility, but authorities later suspected extremists from Boko Haram or its offshoot allied with the Islamic State group. The ministry highlighted the extremists' access to advanced weaponry and support from transnational criminal networks as factors behind the attack.

Boko Haram, active since 2009, seeks to impose radical Islamic law, extending its conflict beyond Nigeria to Chad, Niger, and Cameroon. The ongoing violence has resulted in over 35,000 civilian deaths and displaced more than 2 million in northeastern Nigeria, according to the UN. The group gained global attention with the 2014 kidnapping of 276 schoolgirls in Chibok, Nigeria.

(With inputs from agencies.)