Cameroonian security forces killed eight gunmen believed to be members of Boko Haram, the Islamist group sowing terror in neighbouring Nigeria, a paramilitary officer said on Tuesday.

The far north of Cameroon has become a hotbed of Boko Haram activity, with its porous borders making it an easy staging post for attacks and kidnappings in Nigeria.

A mixed squad of soldiers and paramilitary officers were patrolling the area around the town of Mora when they came across “a dozen Islamists,” the officer from regional capital Maroua said on condition of anonymity.

“Clashes broke out and our forces got the upper hand. Eight Boko Haram were killed,” he said.

The officer added that 48 people were arrested on Monday in Maroua during an operation to dismantle a group believed to be linked to Boko Haram.

“Seventeen are still in custody. Most of the suspects are Nigerians,” who had false Cameroonian identity documents, the officer said.

The operation took place after police received a tip-off that “allies of Boko Haram had moved into Maroua as hairdressers”.

Cameroon shares a border of more than 2 000km with Nigeria. The Islamist militants have already kidnapped several foreigners there.

In mid-May, suspected gunmen from the group took 10 Chinese road workers captive in an attack which left a Cameroonian soldier dead.

Cameroonian President Paul Biya in early June pledged 3 000 extra troops to the troubled border northern region.