16 die as troops rescue Cameroon’s Vice PM’s wife

The abducted wife of Cameroon's Vice Prime Minister, Amadou Ali, has
been rescued from her Boko Haram kidnappers.

The lady was kidnapped on Sunday, alongside a traditional ruler of
Kolofata town in Cameroon.

The rescue operation was carried out by soldiers from Cameroon in an
operation that was reported to have lasted several hours.

According to Hausa Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation, 16
people died during the rescue operation.

Cameroon's Minister of Information, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, confirmed
the freedom of the vice prime minister's wife.

Bakary said government was still investigating the number of casualties.

Meanwhile, some members of the deadly Boko Haram sect on Monday
attacked Katarko village, in the outskirts of Damaturu, the Yobe State
capital, killing eight persons and blowing off an important bridge.

Katarko is 22 kilometers south of Damaturu, Yobe State capital, and a
community in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State, which is
believed to be one of the strongest hold of the sect in the
north-eastern state.

Residents told journalists on the telephone that the insurgents
stormed the town around 7.30 pm, and attacked the military base before
moving to some houses, where eight persons were killed.

One of the residents who claimed that the siege was on for over seven
hours, told journalists on Tuesday that, "They came here and launched
an unsuccessful attack on the military base before embarking on some
selective killings within the town living us with eight casualties
presently being prepared for burial."

He said the insurgents stormed the town around 7.30 pm and carried out
their attack until 2.30 am without any form of resistance.

It was also gathered that during the siege the insurgents blew off the
Katarko Bridge linking Damaturu to their stronghold; Buni Yadi, the
headquarters of Gujba Local Government Area of the state. This area
connects Yobe and neighbouring Borno and Adamawa states, all under
emergency rule as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency.

This is the first time Boko Haram militants are attacking Katarko,
since the commencement of their hostility in 2009.

In a similar report, two suspected members of the sect had been
arrested in Damaturu metropolis for being in possession of Improvise
Explosive Devices.They are believed to have the intention of causing
havoc in the troubled town.

Although authorities declined comment on the arrest, residents
confirmed that the suspects were arrested at separate locations within
the metropolis with the devices.

They claimed that the first arrested insurgent gave out information on
the second hoodlum, who was later picked up at another part of the
troubled town.