Fotokol

{{Infobox settlement

|official_name = Fotokol

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|settlement_type = Commune and town

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|pushpin_map_caption = Location in Cameroon

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|subdivision_name = {{flag|Cameroon}}

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Fotokol is a town and commune in Logone-et-Chari Department, Far North Region, Cameroon. It is home to Fotokol High School.{{Cite web

| title = 60 Boko Haram Members Killed by Cameroon's Army

| work = Bella Naija

| accessdate = 2014-06-10

| date = 2014-06-05

| url = http://www.bellanaija.com/2014/06/05/60-boko-haram-members-killed-by-cameroons-army/

}}

The town is about {{convert|300|m|yd|abbr=off}} across a small river from the Nigerian village of Gamboru, where Fotokol residents often go for supplies.{{Cite web

| title = Africa - North Cameroon living in shadow of Boko Haram

| work = France 24

| accessdate = 2014-06-10

| date = 2013-03-01

| url = http://www.france24.com/en/20130301-north-cameroon-living-shadow-boko-haram/

}}{{Cite web

| title = Nigerians flee to Cameroon to escape Boko Haram violence

| work = Naijaurban

| accessdate = 2014-06-10

| date = 2012-02-09

| url = http://www.naijaurban.com/nigerians-flee-to-cameroon-to-escape-boko-haram-violence/

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140715002959/http://www.naijaurban.com/nigerians-flee-to-cameroon-to-escape-boko-haram-violence/

| archive-date = 2014-07-15

| url-status = dead

}} In 2014, the Gamboru Ngala massacre by jihadist group Boko Haram killed 300 people, endangering Fotokol residents as well.{{Cite news

| title = Mayhem! Violence escalates in Nigeria

| work = JamaicaObserver.com

| accessdate = 2014-06-10

| date = 2014-05-06

| url = http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Mayhem-_16608679

}}{{Cite web

| title = Cameroun - Extrême Nord/Logone et Chari: La brigade de gendarmerie de Fotokol transformée en lieu refuge par les soldats nigérians fuyant les islamistes du Boko Haram

| work = Cameroon-Info.Net

| accessdate = 2014-06-10

| date = 2014

| url = http://www.cameroon-info.net/stories/0,61242,@,cameroun-extreme-nord-logone-et-chari-la-brigade-de-gendarmerie-de-fotokol-trans.html

}}

As of June 2014, "soldiers and paramilitary officers have been deployed in ... [Fotokol] to provide security for residents and allow children to safely attend school."

{{Cite web

| last = Kaze

| first = Reinnier

| title = Bullets in the classroom: Cameroon students caught in Boko Haram crossfire - Cameroon

| work = ReliefWeb

| accessdate = 2014-06-10

| date = 2014-06-04

| url = http://reliefweb.int/report/cameroon/bullets-classroom-cameroon-students-caught-boko-haram-crossfire

}}

In September 2014, the United Nations announced that it was making efforts to move 5,000 refugees staying in Fotokol to safer locations, to avoid cross-border incursions by Nigerian insurgents. Over 8,000 refugees had already been moved to the Minawo refugee camp.{{Cite web

| last = Valentine MULANGO

| title = Cameroon: Cross-border Attacks by Boko Haram Endangers Refugees in Fotokol, UN Seeks to Move 5000 to Safer Location

| work = Cameroon-Info.Net

| accessdate = 2015-02-03

| date = 2014-09-24

| url = http://www.cameroon-info.net/stories/0,63028,@,cameroon-cross-border-attacks-by-boko-haram-endangers-refugees-in-fotokol-un-see.html

}}

On 29 and 30 January 2015, fighting between Chadian soldiers and Boko Haram was reported in Fotokol and surrounding areas.{{Cite web

| title = Chadian jets bomb Nigerian town in anti-Boko Haram raid

| work = AFP - Yahoo News

| accessdate = 2015-02-03

| date = 2015-01-31

| url = https://news.yahoo.com/chadian-aircraft-bomb-nigerian-town-anti-boko-haram-160804571.html

}}{{Cite web

| title = 3 Chad soldiers, 123 Boko Haram militants killed in Cameroon - Yahoo News

| work = AFP - Yahoo News

| accessdate = 2015-02-03

| date = 2015-01-30

| url = https://news.yahoo.com/3-chad-soldiers-123-boko-haram-militants-killed-233359020.html

}} On 4 February 2015, Boko Haram launched a counterattack, to a Chadian assault, on Fotokol, killing 81 civilians, 13 Chadian and 6 Cameroonian soldiers.{{Cite web

| title = Chadian jets bomb Nigerian town in anti-Boko Haram raid

| work = News24

| accessdate = 2015-02-10

| date = 2015-02-05

| url = http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/Chad-troops-killed-in-Boko-Haram-counter-attack-20150205

}} Boko Haram launched a series of suicide attacks in the town, leading to the region's governor to place restrictions on Islamic veils.{{Cite news|date=2015-07-16|title=Cameroon bans Islamic face veil after suicide bombings|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-33553041|access-date=2022-02-23}}

On 6 January 2020, a bombing in Gamboru on the bridge which connects it to Fotokol killed at least 30 people.[https://dw.com/en/nigeria-hit-by-deadly-bomb-attack-near-cameroon/a-51908242 Nigeria hit by deadly bomb attack near Cameroon]