Cameroon – Boko Haram: Government reacts to an alert on terrorist threats in Yaounde and Douala
Wednesday, July 6, 2016 was a public holiday in Cameroon thanks
to the Ramadan. on Tuesday 5th July, subscribers of mobile phone companies
receive SMS on terror threat alert.
“Urgent ! Urgent ! Urgent ! Chers amis, vous qui avez de la
famille tant bien à Douala qu’à Yaoundé, dites aux vôtres d’éviter de se
rendre aux endroits tels que l’avenue du 27 août, le marché New-Bell,
le carrefour Ndokotti, bref des endroits où l’on noterait une forte
concentration de personnes. Idem pour Yaoundé, les marchés aux abords
des agences de transport (bus), etc. Les services secrets américains et
camerounais font état d’au moins 80 kamikazes de Boko Haram entrés dans
ces deux villes pour perpétrer avec la même technique des attentats de
grande ampleur. Demandez à vos membres de famille d’être vigilants et
d’éviter autant que possible les lieux de forts attroupements. Faites
passer le message svp, partagez ce communiqué, vous pouvez sauver des
vies” was the content of the sms.
Asked about this alert, Issa Tchiroma, the Minister
of Communication and Spokesman of the Cameroonian Government, said that
it is a rumor that has nothing to do with reality. “About the
security threat of Douala and Yaounde, I do not talk about it because
the Minister of Communication does not spread rumor. You understand that
if the threat actually existed, I would be the first not only to be
informed, but appropriate communication with government action and
another would have been available to you. This not being the case, I ask
you to believe me that it is rather related to rumor. ”
The Minister however invites his countrymen to double vigilance. “But we must remain vigilant! Boko Haram
gives us an asymmetrical war. They just need one individual wearing
this and then bam problems here and there. We must remain vigilant, but I
insist on that, the threat is virtual, “concluded Issa Tchiroma
who faced the press on Tuesday, July 5 to precisely make the point of
the war of Cameroon against Boko Haram.
The month of Ramadan has been particularly bloody because of the
increase in terrorist attacks in the Far North, the only Region of
Cameroon suffering the abuses of the Islamic sect from Nigeria. As is
the case for about three years, the celebration of the feast of Ramadan
is under close surveillance throughout the country. The authorities have
specially reinforced security around the sites developed for prayer.
Commentaires