Nigeria, Sept. 24 -- Kidnappings, assassinations and other attacks have surged over the past year along Cameroon's national highway linking the capital Yaounde in the south to Kousseri, the northern border town with Chad. Boko Haram factions target passengers and freight trucks almost daily, despite the heavy military presence along this vital regional trade route. As the 2026 rainy season sets in, already-poor road conditions further threaten travel and commerce.

The Maroua-Kousseri-N'Djamena corridor serves as a lifeline for landlocked Chad, Nigerian exporters and Cameroonian communities living along this stretch of road. Cameroon's Douala port is vital for Chad's supply lines, with trade between the two countries dependent on goods mo...