Bodo, Cameroon Explained

Official Name:Bodo
Settlement Type:Village
Pushpin Map:Cameroon
Pushpin Label Position:bottom
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Cameroon
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Cameroon
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Name1:Far North Region
Subdivision Type2:Department
Subdivision Name2:Logone-et-Chari
Subdivision Type3:Commune
Subdivision Name3:Makary
Unit Pref:Imperial
Coordinates:12.3599°N 14.472°W

Bodo is a village in the Far North Region of Cameroon, adjacent to the border with Nigeria.

History

Bodo is one of the settlements in Far North that is badly affected by jihadist group Boko Haram's insurgency which originated in neighboring Nigeria in 2009. They started attacking Cameroon (along with Chad and Niger) in the mid-2010s. Bodo is just across the border which is only marked by a small river. Suicide bombers and raiders have repeatedly attacked the village, resulting in locals setting up a self-defense group.[1] The most deadly attack in the village took place on 25 January 2016, when Bodo was struck by four female Boko Haram suicide bombers. They had disguised themselves as traders, and managed to circumvent the local self-defense fighters by using the dusty Harmattan winds to their advantage. The bombers then detonated themselves on the village's market, killing 35 people and wounding 70. The government responded by launching an attack on a suspected insurgent base at nearby Achigashia, and by closing all border markets to prevent further similar attacks.[2]

After Boko Haram fighters overran the town of Rann in Borno State, northeastern Nigeria on 14 January 2019, about 8,000 of its inhabitants fled across the border to Bodo. Humanitarian groups set up a refugee camp to accommodate the arrivals.[3] Regardless, Cameroonian authorities forced all but 1,500 refugees to go back to Nigeria after a few days.[4]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Suicide bombers kill 32, wound dozens in northern Cameroon . Josiane Kouagheu . Reuters . 25 January 2016 . 24 February 2019.
  2. Web site: Cameroon Closes Border Markets After Boko Haram Attack . Moki Edwin Kindzeka . Voice of America . 27 January 2016 . 24 February 2019.
  3. Web site: Shekau Boko Haram faction claims attack in Rann, Nigeria . Fergus Kelly . Defense Post . 17 January 2019 . 24 February 2019.
  4. Web site: Briefing: Nigerians seek safety in Cameroon as Boko Haram crisis escalates . Linus Unah . IRIN News . 7 February 2019 . 17 August 2018 .