​Wife of Cameroon's Vice Prime Minister Kidnapped in Boko Haram Attack

By Isha Aran  |  July 27, 2014 | 4:36pm
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According to Cameroonian officials, this morning members of the Boko Haram insurgency launched an attack on the home of Cameroonian Vice Prime Minister Amadou Ali, and kidnapped his wife. At least three people were killed in the attack. In a separate strike, local religious leader and mayor Seini Boukar Lamine was also taken from his home. This is the third time the Nigerian Islamist group has launched attacks across the border into Cameroon since Friday.

It’s been just over 100 days since over 200 schoolgirls were kidnapped in Chibok, launching global ire and a viral campaign to #BringBackOurGirls. The initial passion has worn off in face of the stagnation of the search, and in Nigeria the conversation has taken a much more skeptical tone—many doubt President Goodluck Jonathan’s ability to handle the situation.

What’s more is there’s a largely-held belief that the Nigerian army is working hand in hand with Boko Haram, producing an atmosphere of distrust that has hindered the fight against the group. A #BringBackOurGirls-type group has emerged operating under the motto “Return Our Girls Now” criticizing those who criticize the government, and many think that these “Return Our Girls Now” protesters are being paid by the government to take off some of the heat they’re facing.

Meanwhile, Boko Haram is continuing its rampage in Nigeria seemingly unabetted and is attempting to gain ground in the neighboring country of Cameroon, though they have been clashing with Cameroonian soldiers. While the US sent 80 troops to Chad in May to provide support for Nigerian intelligence to aid in the kidnapping crisis, it doesn’t look like the US will be directly engaging anytime soon—there’s not enough (American interest) and yet too much (American influence) at stake.

And as the Nigerian government continues to temper the strained political atmosphere including tensions between Nigeria’s Muslim north and Christian south, heartbreakingly, it would be optimistic to say that time is running out for the Chibok girls kidnapped in April.

Image via Getty.

 
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