One dead after Boko Haram attacks village in Cameroon

On Friday March 15, Boko Haram militants attacked the village of Lambram near the Cameroon-Nigeria border in the Far North, killing one believer and destroying livelihoods. Since the start of 2024 at least 1500 have been displaced in the Far North.

On the night of 15 March and the morning of March 16, Boko Haram militants attacked the Christian community of Lambram in the north region of Cameroon.

The militants looted animals, food, and seedlings from the villagers, who are mostly Christians. The exact number of people affected is not known as of March 25. 

Mogozo Tehawa (45), a Christian who attended a nearby evangelical church was shot and killed when Boko Haram attacked. He was the only person killed that night. 

“We usually go up to the mountain to spend the night since Boko Haram frequently attacks our houses. That night he delayed, and because he couldn’t hear well, he did not hear their footsteps… they met him alone in his house and killed him,” Pastor Paul of the Evangelical Church in nearby Tourou explained.

On the morning of March 16, Christians gathered in his compound to bid farewell to the father of five.

Fear continues to loom and some Christians from Lambram have moved to neigbouring communities.

“Many have traveled far. The attacks are getting too much. But the people seem not to have too many options. Their farms and lives in Lambram cannot be moved. So, they return hoping that only God keeps them safe,” Pastor Paul shared his concerns.

This is the second such attack on the village of Lambram this year. On January 27, about 100 Boko Haram militants looted 10 Christian homes and killed Ngahadek Doula, a Christian woman in her 60s. 

Since January 1, 2024, three villages (Tourou, Ldoumbam-bas, Lambram) within the region have been attacked by Boko Haram. This has brought on the displacement of at least 1500 people, more than half of whom are Christians.

“The repeated attacks of Christian communities and villages in the Far North of Cameroon at the hands of Boko Haram and ISWAP is ongoing largely unnoticed by the international community. We are horrified that these attacks continue unabated, displacing thousands of people from their homes, farmlands and livelihoods. We call on the international community to do everything in its power to ensure the Government of Cameroon faithfully and transparently protects all affected communities and that the displaced receive the support they need in these circumstances,” said an Open Doors spokesperson for the work in Sub-Saharan Africa.