Army investigates enrolment of 84 children into Boko Haram

Rescued during a major raid which led to the arrest of 30 suspected trainers after the discovery of a Boko Haram training camp, the Cameroonian army continued its investigations to find the parents of 84 boys who "sold" them to the Nigerian Islamist sect.

Kept in a gendarmerie garrison in the far North region which is mainly affected by Boko Haram attacks on Cameroonian soil, these children aged 8 to 12 years are almost all Cameroonians, originating from Mora, a town in this region close to the border with Nigeria, reported security sources.

Before undergoing training for about a month, they "had been sold by their parents" to Boko Haram and were distributed in "three training centres" located between this town and another to participate in the activities of destabilization carried out by this terrorist organisation against Cameroon for reasons not stated so far, according to investigations disclosed to Xinhua by a source close to the case.

"As soon as the investigation is buckled, their parents will be summoned to explain why they have sold their children to Boko Haram", suggested this source.

Since 2013, more than 3,000 young Cameroonians originating from the North of the country had been enlisted by the Nigerian Islamist sect, some forced and others against the payment of money, according to estimates made by independent sources.

Unlike the kids, 30 trainers from Boko Haram arrested during the operation, all of Cameroonian nationality, have been under lock and key, where they will wait to find their fate.