​Wife of Cameroon's Vice Prime Minister Kidnapped in Boko Haram Attack

According
to Cameroonian officials, this morning members of the Boko Haram
insurgency launched an attack on the home of Cameroonian Vice Prime
Minister Amadou Ali, and kidnapped his wife. At least three people were
killed in the attack. In a separate strike, local religious leader and
mayor Seini Boukar Lamine was also taken
from his home. This is the third time the Nigerian Islamist group has
launched attacks across the border into Cameroon since Friday.

It's been just over 100 days
since over 200 schoolgirls were kidnapped in Chibok, launching global
ire and a viral campaign to #BringBackOurGirls. The initial passion has
worn off in face of the stagnation
of the search, and in Nigeria the conversation has taken a much more
skeptical tone—many doubt President Goodluck Jonathan's ability to
handle the situation.

What's more is there's a largely-held belief that the Nigerian army is working hand in hand with Boko Haram, producing an atmosphere of distrust
that has hindered the fight against the group. A
#BringBackOurGirls-type group has emerged operating under the motto
"Return Our Girls Now" criticizing those who criticize the government,
and many think that these "Return Our Girls Now" protesters are being
paid by the government to take off some of the heat they're facing.

Meanwhile, Boko Haram is continuing its rampage
in Nigeria seemingly unabetted and is attempting to gain ground in the
neighboring country of Cameroon, though they have been clashing with
Cameroonian soldiers. While the US sent 80 troops to Chad in May to
provide support for Nigerian intelligence to aid in the kidnapping
crisis, it doesn't look like the US will be directly engaging anytime
soon—there's not enough (American interest) and yet too much (American
influence) at stake.

And as the Nigerian government continues
to temper the strained political atmosphere including tensions between
Nigeria's Muslim north and Christian south, heartbreakingly, it would be
optimistic to say that time is running out for the Chibok girls
kidnapped in April.

Image via Getty.