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Boko Haram militants kill 81 civilians in northern Cameroon

Xinhua, February 6, 2015 Adjust font size:

Cameroonian defense minister Edgar Alain Mebe confirmed Thursday that 81 civilians were killed by Boko Haram militants in an attack in Cameroon's Far-North Region on Wednesday.

The minister said in a statement that preliminary figure shows 13 Chadian soldiers and 6 Cameroonian soldiers were also killed in the attack.

Around 7,000 Nigerian Islamist sect Boko Haram militants launched a violent attack on Fotokol, a town in Far-North Region Wednesday morning, with heavy weapons and 30 armored trucks.

There were fierce fire exchange between the militants and the joint army of Chad and Cameroon. Fotokol was lost to the control of the militants and retaken by joint army a few hours later.

Military sources told Xinhua earlier at least 300 militants were killed in the fighting.

The latest African Union summit concluded a few days ago decided to form a multinational force of 7,500 to fight against Boko Haram. Leaders of Economic Community of Central African States will meet in Yaounde on Feb. 16 to discuss the formation of the force. Endi