(AP) – At least 12 Cameroonian soldiers were killed on Monday, March 24, 2025, night in an attack by Islamic militants near the country’s border with Nigeria, according to a statement from the Cameroonian Ministry of Defense.
Details of the Attack
The attack, which also left over a dozen soldiers wounded, took place in the Lake Chad region near Wulgo. While no group was initially identified, authorities later suspected Boko Haram or its breakaway faction linked to the Islamic State.
The Cameroonian Ministry of Defense pointed to the militants’ advanced weaponry and their growing alliance with transnational criminal networks as contributing factors to the assault.
Boko Haram’s Ongoing Insurgency
Boko Haram, originally based in Nigeria, launched its insurgency in 2009 to impose its radical Islamic law and fight against Western education. The conflict has spilled into neighboring countries, including Chad, Niger, and Cameroon.
According to the United Nations, Boko Haram’s violence has led to:
- 35,000 civilian deaths in northeastern Nigeria alone.
- The displacement of over 2 million people.
- One of the group’s most infamous acts was the 2014 abduction of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok, Borno State, which gained international attention.
Rising Threats in the Region
In January, at least 40 people were killed in a separate Boko Haram attack across the border in Nigeria. Officials warn that the group’s continued expansion and access to sophisticated weaponry pose an increasing threat to regional stability.
The Cameroonian government has vowed to intensify counterterrorism operations to prevent further attacks and secure its borders against extremist incursions.
