Cameroon officials have said that its troops have killed some 40 Boko Haram members who were trying to cross into Cameroon on Sunday.

Cameroonian State Radio reported on Sunday that troops clashed with Boko Haram militants in the town of Kousseri, far north of Cameroon close to the Nigerian border, resulting in a heavy loses to the militants.

Shortly after this announcement by State Radio, it was reported that Boko Haram has released two Italian priests and a Canadian nun it abducted for close to two months. It is unclear whether the clash with the Cameroonian troops was a possible rescue mission carried out by the Cameroonian military.

Gianantonio Allegri, Giampaolo Marta both from Italy and Gilberte Bussier from Canada were abducted in the district of Maroua close to the Nigerian border in April this year.

Cameroon announced it had deployed about 1,000 troops to its border with Nigeria on Tuesday to fight the growing threat from Boko Haram.

On Friday, a high-ranking traditional leader was shot dead by suspected Boko Haram militants in northern Nigeria.

The Emir of Gwoza, Shehu Mustapha Idris Timta was travelling in his convoy when his car came under gun fire from Boko Haram. He died instantly on the spot.

Meanwhile, at least 14 people were killed in a bomb attack on a bar that was screening a televised football match in the northeast of the country on Sunday night.

Police said the attack took place in the town of Mubi in Adamawa state, close to the Cameroonian border.

Police spokesman for Adamawa state, Usman Abubakar told reporters he feared the death toll could rise as a result of the nature of the attack.

“So far we have 14 dead while 12 are injured, some of them critically wounded and death toll might rise”, he said.

An international rescue operation is still being carried out by the US and its allies to be able to locate and free the Chibok schoolgirls Boko Haram abducted on April 16.

President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered the military to eliminate Boko Haram from Nigeria to bring back the peace the country enjoyed previously. He said the country would never negotiate with terrorists.

“I have instructed our security forces to launch a full-scale operation to put an end to the impunity of terrorists on our soil, with the support of Nigerians, our neighbors and the international community, we will reinforce our defence, free our girls and rid Nigeria of terrorists,” President Jonathan said last Thursday.

Issaka Adams / NationalTurk Africa News

Writer’s Email Address: Adamsisska@googlemail.com

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