Radical Muslim Nigerian sect Boko Haram perpetrated 40 attacks against northern Cameroon in the past six months, according to government sources quoted by press reports.

The attacks killed 20 people and more than 200 were kidnapped, including the wife of Deputy Prime Minister Ahmadou Ali, whose fate is still unknown. The assailants also kidnapped traditional chief Seini Boukar and part of his family.

The northern localities of Mayo Sava, Mayo Tsanaga and Logone Chari have been main targets of attacks by large groups of heavily armed men.

To fight Boko Haram attacks in this part of Cameroon, President Paul Biya reorganized the Defense Forces, creating recently a military contingent based in Maroua, the provincial capital of Extreme North province, bordering Nigeria.

Last week, 1,000 soldiers were sent as reinforcements to form the Rapid Intervention Battalion, an elite Army unit of Cameroon deployed along the border with Nigeria.

Other steps taken by the authorities include banning the traffic of motorcycles in this part of the country, where such vehicles are used as transportation among provinces and also to travel to Nigeria.

Motorcyclists are believed to favor moving Boko Haram members from Nigeria to Cameroon and in interior cities, according to PANA news agency.