Fighters from the Nigerian militant group Boko Haram killed dozens of people Thursday in northern Cameroon, an official said, as cross-border clashes continued between the insurgents and multiple governments trying to defeat them.
Issa Tchiroma Bakari, a government spokesman and minister of communications for Cameroon, said at least 800 fighters burned churches, mosques and villages as they slaughtered people who resisted joining them in fighting against Cameroonian forces.
He said the militants first clashed with Chadian forces across the border in the Nigerian town of Gambaru, then moved into Cameroon to attack Fotocol.
"After fierce fighting, the enemy was once more booted out, incurring over more than 50 deaths among its troops," Bakari told VOA. "The response of our army led to the seizing of huge war materiel," said Bakari.
Fighters escaped from Fotocol into surrounding villages, where they were pursued by Cameroonian soldiers.
The Cameroonian forces, backed by Chad, had repelled Boko Haram militants from Fotocol on Wednesday, after the fighters killed at least 70 people in a raid.
Chad has taken the lead role in a multinational effort to help Nigeria defeat Boko Haram and retake areas seized by the militants for an envisioned Islamic state.
Fighting in northeast Nigeria has escalated as the country's February 14 presidential election draws closer. So far, Nigeria's Independent National Election Commission has resisted calls to postpone the vote because of the insecurity.
Plans are under way to set up a force of 7,500 soldiers to combat Boko Haram, which is blamed for thousands of deaths since launching its insurgency in 2009. Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Benin have pledged to contribute troops to the force.
On Tuesday, Nigerian government spokesman Mike Omeri told VOA that Chad is operating under a bilateral protocol that allows it to pursue Boko Haram fighters into Nigerian territory.
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