Cameroon Vigilantes Hunt for Boko Haram at cross boarders

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Cameroon has repeatedly praised the work of civilian self-defense groups in the north who are assisting security forces in the war against Boko Haram. Soldiers have given the militia some training and the state has now handed over motorcycles and bicycles so militia can monitor border areas.

Hundreds of young men armed with machetes and knives sing of their vow to protect their homes from Boko Haram insurgents.

Rise of vigilantes

The vigilantes rose up last year as the Boko Haram insurgency spilled over Nigeria?s borders. Militants have razed villages, murdered civilians and carried out a steady string of bomb attacks in northern Cameroon.


Self-defense groups have been asking the state for motorcycles and bicycles so they can patrol the hilly, hard-to-reach border areas. They hope to stop militants from infiltrating and planting landmines.

At a ceremony, Midjiyawa Bakari, governor of the Far North region, handed the bikes over.

He said thanks to education efforts, locals are sharing information and people in border villages have been massively joining self-defense groups. He called on the militia to stay vigilant each time they use the motorcycles and bicycles to go hunt for suspicious visitors and report them. But he said those that have been killed have not died in vain and the country will always remember and honor them.

Local religious leaders said a prayer over the equipment.