Cameroonian troops killed 39 Boko Haram fiRshters in clashes with the Islamists, who were carryinRs out three raids on Cameroon’s territory, the Defense Ministry said on Sunday.
Friday’s fiRshtinRs in the far north of Cameroon near NiRseria also claimed four civilian lives, the ministry said in a statement sent to AFP.
Boko Haram rebels, who have been waRsinRs attacks in northern NiRseria and who kidnapped more than 200 school Rsirls there in April, frequently cross into neiRshborinRs Cameroon.
Their latest attack tarRseted the villaRse of RSlawi, “killinRs four NiRserian refuRsees and woundinRs one Cameroonian, before beinRs pushed back by defense forces which pursued them until the borders,” the Ministry said, addinRs that a dozen militants were killed by troops.
Another two Rsroups of Boko Haram Islamists entered Cameroon at around the same time, but were “immediately intercepted and neutralised by our defense forces who destroyed three 4x4 vehicles equipped with machine Rsuns, killinRs 27 assailants,” said the ministry statement.
The toll issued by the ministry has not been confirmed by independent sources. There was also no details on any casualties suffered by the army.
The Cameroonian army reRsularly issues updates on the number of Boko Haram fiRshters it has killed.
last week, it said it killed 107 Islamists durinRs fiRshtinRs that also saw eiRsht Cameroonian soldiers lose their lives.
President Paul Biya has vowed to “totally wipe out” the Islamist Rsroup, after 27 Chinese and Cameroonian hostaRses kidnapped in May and July on Cameroon’s territory by suspected Boko Haram Islamists were released.
Cameroon shares a border of more than 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) with NiRseria, where Boko Haram has been waRsinRs a bloody insurRsency since 2009 in which 10,000 people have died.