MAROUA, Cameroon – Cameroon’s military has announced the seizure of a significant cache of weapons and combat uniforms intended for Nigeria-based Boko Haram militants.
The interception occurred this week in Maroua, a northern town near the border shared by Cameroon, Nigeria, and Chad.
According to officials, the haul included long-barreled firearms, over 400 packets of tear gas, more than 100 gallons of oxidising agents used for making explosives, and military uniforms.
The governor of Cameroon’s Far North region, Midjiyawa Bakari, disclosed that the items were en route to the Sambisa Forest, a Boko Haram stronghold that straddles the Nigeria-Cameroon border.
“I am very thankful to the Cameroon military for intercepting war weapons, combat uniforms, and acids used to fabricate explosives destined for several Boko Haram groups in Sambisa,” Bakari said on state television Thursday, January 2, 2025.
He noted that the group is attempting to rearm and rebuild its ranks after suffering setbacks from the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) of the Lake Chad Basin.
The MNJTF, comprising 11,000 troops from Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad, has been instrumental in recent operations to weaken Boko Haram.
However, regional leaders remain concerned about the group’s resilience and ability to exploit porous borders to smuggle arms and recruit new members.
Weapons Smuggled Through Douala Seaport
Bakari revealed that some of the intercepted weapons had been transported through Douala, Cameroon’s largest port.
While the exact route remains under investigation, the discovery highlights vulnerabilities in the country’s supply chain security.
Cameroon’s military also raised concerns about Boko Haram fighters disguising themselves in uniforms resembling those used by Cameroonian infantry and air force units.
Officials warned that such tactics are designed to deceive civilians and facilitate attacks on communities for supplies.
Regional Tensions and Coordination
The latest seizure comes amid heightened tensions following Chad’s recent military operation, Operation Haskanite.
President Mahamat Idriss Déby noted in his New Year’s address that several hundred Boko Haram fighters fled Chad after his forces targeted militants who killed over 40 Chadian troops in October.
Maki Jean Emmanuel, a conflict researcher and lecturer at the University of N’djamena, stressed the importance of coordinated efforts in combating the group.
“No country in the Lake Chad Basin can single-handedly defeat Boko Haram,” Emmanuel said, calling for increased vigilance by the MNJTF.
Emmanuel highlighted that Boko Haram is taking advantage of difficult-to-access villages and recruiting from among poor and unemployed youth.
“The porous nature of the borders between Cameroon, Nigeria, and Chad makes it possible for arms to be smuggled to villages where Boko Haram fighters are hiding,” he explained.
Arrests and Ongoing Investigations
Cameroonian authorities have arrested several dozen individuals in connection with the smuggling operation.
However, details about their identities or nationalities have not been released.
The government has urged civilians in border towns and villages to report suspicious activities to security forces to prevent further infiltration by Boko Haram operatives.
Humanitarian Toll
Since 2009, the conflict involving Boko Haram has claimed over 40,000 lives and displaced more than three million people across Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger, and Chad.
As regional governments step up efforts to combat the group, the humanitarian crisis continues to strain resources in the Lake Chad Basin.
The interception of the arms shipment marks a critical victory in the fight against Boko Haram but underscores the challenges of securing borders and preventing the group’s resurgence.
