Fighting Boko Haram: Vigilant Group Calls Biya's Donation "A Mockery"

Over 300 members of a vigilante group in Cameroon’s far north region helping the military fend-off attacks byt the Islamist sect Boko Haram marche up to the sub-prefecture of Moskota (Far North) to denounce on Tuesday morning the “mockery gifts” from a donation by President Paul Biya, as motivation to the sacrifices they are offering the nation, security sources said.

They chanted hostile slogans against local authorities in front of the prefecture, before dispersing after thirty minutes, refusing to accept their share of the donation consisting of four bags of groundnut and maize, a carton of soap, a box of tomato and 18 bottles of mineral water. 

Last April, President Biya donated vigilant groups in the towns of Logone and Chari, Mayo-Sava and Mayo-Tsanaga a cargo estimated at CFA 1.9 billion consisting of foodstuff, basic products, animal feed, veterinary products, and agricultural equipment. According to the protesters, a good deal of the donation had been diverted by the authorities responsible for their distribution to the rightful beneficiaries. In March, President Biya donated 40 motorcycles and 60 bicycles to the police to strengthen the fight against jihadism in the Far North of the country.

In another development, one civilian is reported to have been killed on Monday overnight at Vizi (Far North-Region), following a raid by the Nigeria-based sect Boko Haram. Hours later, two Cameroonian soldiers were injured on the Djibrili-Gouzda highway, located in the same area as their vehicle ran over a mine reportedly planted by the insurgents.