3 Boko Haram suspects face military tribunal

By Rachel NtubeNgwese in Yaounde

Some three suspected Boko Haram agents detained after the July 24 Kolofata attacks appeared before the military tribunal in Yaounde last Tuesday 7 June 2016. Mustapha Umar, MuhammedSherif and IshakaNgare are Nigerians carrying the Cameroonian National Identity card and suspected of orchestrating terrorists attacks in the Far North region of Cameroon.

                According to the charge sheet, they face a four count charge of illegally making their way into Cameroon, fraudulently possessing the Cameroon identity card, using of fire arms to break into a building and the destruction of both public and private buildings including the Kolofata residence of the Vice Prime Minister in charge of the relations with the assemblies Amadou Ali.

                The charge sheet also read that the said suspects used fire arms as part of their insurgent force which was equally applied in the attack of the Kousseri Gendarmerie post in the Logone and Chari division of the far north region.

                The matter was heard by the vice president of the Yaounde military tribunal, Mrs Justice Ivonne-LeopoldineAkoa.

                Of the three suspects, only Mustapha Sherif appeared before the judge last Tuesday, as court authorities were unable get his associates from prison custody for reasons yet unknown.

                According to the prosecution, the accused fought for Boko Haram and also carried out attacks for the sect within an estimated period of six months. They also later got involved in arms dealing, supplying weapons and ammunitions to Boko Haram.

                It is reported that they supplied 600 AK47 assault rifles, 25 rocket launchers and 40 rockets to the Islamic militants. But the question as to the source of these weapons is still to be answered.

                Meanwhile, the judgment is still to continue, it should be recalled Musthapha Umar, Mohamed Sherif and IshakaNgare were the accused detained for taking part in the July 27 2014 attack in Kolofata, Mayo Sava division of the far north region which led to the abduction of Mrs. Amadou Ali nee Francoise Agnes Moukouri, alongside several other people, while many other innocent citizens lost their lives in the course of the attack.