Fotokol | |
|---|---|
Commune and town | |
| Country |  Cameroon |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (WAT) |
Fotokol is a town and commune in Logone-et-Chari Department, Far North Region, Cameroon. It is home to Fotokol High School.[1]
The town is about 300 metres (330 yards) across a small river from the Nigerian village of Gamboru, where Fotokol residents often go for supplies.[2][3] In 2014, the Gamboru Ngala massacre by jihadist group Boko Haram killed 300 people, endangering Fotokol residents as well.[4][5][6]
As of June 2014, "soldiers and paramilitary officers have been deployed in ... [Fotokol] to provide security for residents and allow children to safely attend school."[4]
In September 2014, the United Nations announced that it was making efforts to move 5,000 refugees staying in Fotokol to safer locations, to avoid cross-border incursions by Nigerian insurgents. Over 8,000 refugees had already been moved to the Minawo refugee camp.[7]
On 29 and 30 January 2015, fighting between Chadian soldiers and Boko Haram was reported in Fotokol and surrounding areas.[8][9] On 4 February 2015, Boko Haram launched a counterattack, to a Chadian assault, on Fotokol, killing 81 civilians, 13 Chadian and 6 Cameroonian soldiers.[10] Boko Haram launched a series of suicide attacks in the town, leading to the region's governor to place restrictions on Islamic veils.[11]
On 6 January 2020, a bombing in Gamboru on the bridge which connects it to Fotokol killed at least 30 people.[12]
