The wife of Cameroon's vice prime minister has been kidnapped and at least three people were killed in an attack by the Islamic militant group Boko Haram.

The kidnapping took place early yesterday morning Sunday July 27,2014 in the town of Kolofata, in the far north region of Cameroon, according to the communications minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary.

He said heavily armed fighters targeted the home of vice prime minister Amadou Ali as well as a local spiritual leader called Seini Boukar Lamine, who is also the town's mayor.

Boko Haram, the Nigerian Islamist militant group, has stepped up cross-border attacks into Cameroon in recent weeks because the country has deployed troops to the region, joining international efforts to combat the militants.
Some people were killed during the attack but it is not yet known exactly how many. 

Cameroon's Govt has become increasingly involved in regional efforts to combat Boko Haram, despite warnings from the armed group to stay out of its fight with the Nigerian military or risk further attacks.

Yesterday's assault is the third Boko Haram attack into Cameroon since Friday.

 Meanwhile, some 22 suspected Boko Haram militants, who have been held in Maroua since March, were on Friday sentenced to prison sentences ranging from 10 to 20 years