Around 40 Chadian and Cameroonian citizens have been kidnapped in Cameroon’s northern town of Touboro, a local mayor has said.
Celestin Yandal told the BBC that suspected bandits targeted and ambushed Chadian traders on Sunday, as they were returning home from the Touboro market where they trade cattle.
He said other people “leaving from Chad to Cameroon, including students, and those returning towards the Chadian border” were also kidnapped.
The Chadian ministry of public security said their forces have so far freed eight of those who were kidnapped.
Cameroon’s ministry of defence is yet to respond to the BBC’s request for comment, but a security official said soldiers are working to free those who remain abducted.
Cameroon and Chad share a 1,100km (680-mile) border, which sees many cases of kidnapping, theft and other illicit activities. Both countries recently resolved to intensify co-operation in order to protect their citizens and resources.
