This archive report was first published on 12 July 2019.
On the frontlines of the fight against Boko Haram, the government of Cameroon has unveiled an innovative strategy to counter the Islamist militant group's recruiting tactics. The initiative involves distributing thousands of goats and sheep to young Cameroonians in villages along the border with Nigeria.
The program aims to provide a basic income for vulnerable families, thereby preventing them from joining the extremists who promise jobs. By empowering these families with livestock, the government hopes to break the cycle of poverty and recruitment by Boko Haram.
According to reports, 17-year-old Oumar Nafisatu received four sheep in the village of Salak. Nafisatu, who has been left to care for herself after her parents were killed by Boko Haram in 2017, is looking forward to having baby sheep to sell and pay for her school fees.
Cameroon's government plans to distribute 60,000 goats and sheep by the end of the year. The minister of livestock, Dr. Taiga, stated that the animals will be given to those who have suffered in the fight against Boko Haram, with the goal of providing for their basic needs and helping them avoid temptations that could jeopardize peace and bring chaos.
Midjiyawa Bakary, governor of Cameroon's Far North region, noted that while there have been no major Boko Haram attacks in the past year, the militants are still recruiting, and the military remains on alert. Bakary emphasized the importance of vigilance and the need for village militias to be reactivated to work in collaboration with the military, officials, traditional rulers, and the clergy.
