Boko Haram kidnaps top official’s wife in Cameroon

YAOUNDE, Cameroon (AP) — A government spokesman says Boko Haram fighters kidnapped the wife of Cameroon’s vice prime minister in an attack that also resulted in multiple deaths.

Communications Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary said the attack occurred early Sunday morning in the town of Kolofata, in the Far North Region. He said the fighters targeted the home of Vice Prime Minister Amadou Ali as well as a local traditional chief.

He could not provide the exact numbers of people killed and kidnapped because he was still gathering information about the attack. But he confirmed that Ali’s wife was among those kidnapped.

Cameroon’s government has become increasingly involved in regional efforts to combat Boko Haram, despite warnings from the armed group to stay out of its fight with the Nigerian military or risk further attacks.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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