The government spokesman who media reports suggested had been hushed by the presidency issued a press release on July 13 to shed light on a terrorist attack that left 14 people dead and 35 others injured.

Issa Tchiroma Bakary, Communication Minister often referred to as government spokesman has issued a press release to set the records straight on a Boko Haram suicide attack which took place in Waza, in the Logone and Chari division, Far North region.

Going by the release, a young girl July 13 detonated a suicide bomb somewhere along the entrance into the town of Waza where truck drivers park their vehicles. The girl killed herself and 12 people. The fourteenth person killed was a second suicide bomber who was shot down by soldiers of the rapid intervention unit. She was shot while trying to get into the soldiers camp. Experts disarmed the bomb she was carrying on her, according to the release.

The communication minster through the communique, extended the condolences of the Head State to families of citizens killed in the attack. He also noted that President Biya has ordered that the injured should be given adequate medical attention to enable them regain their health.

It should be noted that the communication minister known to be vocal had maintained a long silence which observers found suspicious. Some local French language newspapers earlier claimed that the presidency had asked minister Tchiroma to shut up. One of the newspapers published a headline story (Issa Tchiroma: the fall of a praise singer) this week suggesting that the minister had ‘fallen’.