At least eight people were killed and about 100 others were kidnapped by suspected Boko Haram militants in an overnight raid on Tchakarmari, a village near Cameroon’s northern border.
A local government and a military source told Reuters that the attackers returned to Nigeria after their operation.
“Residents said the attackers headed back to Nigeria where Cameroon is not allowed to pursue them,” the local government source in the far north region said.
A senior military officer deployed as part of a Cameroonian military operation aimed at curbing the spillover of violence from Boko Haram’s stronghold in north-eastern Nigeria said the attackers had crossed over from Nigeria shortly after midnight.
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After the spate of suicide bombings in July, Cameroon’s government announced plans to send an additional 2,000 troops to boost security in the far north region.
Last month, the regional governor banned burqas, a religious garment worn by female muslims, to check the frequency of suicide attacks.
About 2,000 Nigerians who fled as a result of insurgency were recently expelled for living in the country without permission.
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Cameroon has already deployed some 7,000 troops to the regional force combating Boko Haram’s six-year violent campaign.
President Muhammadu Buhari visited Cameroon last week to discuss strategies in the battle against insurgency.
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