... not to be confused with Procol Harum, Harum Scarum, possibly to be confused with Helter Skelter. The Nigerian version of al-Qaeda and the Taliban rolled together and flavored with a smigeon of distinctly Subsaharan ignorance and brutality...from taking advantage of open borders to revive their operations.
On 27 January, the governors of Borno in Nigeria and Cameroon
...a long, narrow country that fills the space between Nigeria and Chad on the northeast, CAR to the southeast. Prior to incursions by Boko Haram nothing ever happened there...
's Far North Region inaugurated a livestock market in Banki, once a major hub of cross-border trade between the two countries. The Amchid -Banki border post, like several others between Cameroon and Nigeria, was closed in 2014 at the height of Boko Haram activity in the region.
In early 2014, the
As military operations and the region's stabilisation strategy improved security, the Amchid -Banki border was reopened in 2019, followed by the Fotokol-Gambaru crossing in 2021.
Border crossings and sites of Boko Haram activity, Nigeria-Cameroon border
The closures had disrupted the booming cross-border market that sustained the border communities' economy. For most of its neighbours, Nigeria is the region's leading economic and trade partner. Goods from Nigeria pass through Amchid , Limani and Fotokol on their way to Chad, Sudan
...a Moslem country located in the Horn of Africa. It is noted for its affinity for rule by ex- or current generals, its holy men, and for the oppression of the native Afro population by its Arab conquerors. South Sudan, populated mostly by the natives, split off from Sudan proper, which left North and South Darfur to be oppressed by the guys with turbans...and the Central African Republic.
The three towns are therefore important transit centres and warehouses for local traders, creating jobs and revenue through taxes that local authorities can use for development initiatives.
Overall, reopening the borders has contributed to Cameroon's national economy through customs duties. Far North customs data reviewed by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) revealed that before Boko Haram attacks started in 2013, the most profitable office in the region was Limani, which generated annual revenue of XAF1 114 791 860 (around US$1 900 000). In 2024, after reopening the borders, revenue reached XAF2 201 420 676 (around US$3 800 000). In Fotokol, XAF1 519 630 651 (US$2 600 000) was collected in 2024.
But Boko Haram has not been defeated, and still presents a security threat to both countries. While reopening borders has undoubtedly revitalised the regional economy, it has also benefitted the Death Eaters — allowing them to regroup and target traders and local communities.