Cameroon: Oumar, 20, shot by Boko Haram in the Far North after refusing to leave his village

Open Doors calls for prayer after January attack in Cameroon’s Far North

Boko Haram gunmen opened fire on 20-year-old Oumar in the Far North region of Cameroon after he refused to go with them, leaving a bullet lodged in his leg that doctors have been unable to remove.

In a statement released on 18 September, the Christian advocacy group Open Doors urged believers around the world to pray for Oumar, a young man targeted because of his faith in a region where Islamist extremists operate with growing impunity.

Cameroon ranks 37th on Open Doors’ 2026 World Watch List of the 50 countries where Christians face the most severe persecution. The Far North, which borders Nigeria and Chad, has become a stronghold for Boko Haram and its offshoot ISWAP, groups that, according to the organisation, threaten, abduct and forcibly convert Christians to Islam.

What happened in Oumar’s village

Oumar’s ordeal began in January when assailants stormed his village. More than twelve people were killed in the raid, including the brother of his neighbour, a father of seven children.

The attackers seized Oumar and took him out of the town. “After they brought me out of the city, I told them I would not go with them. I called for help, and that is when they shot me,” the 20-year-old recalled.

Wounded in the leg, he was rushed to hospital and underwent surgery. But the bullet could not be extracted, and the young man continues to suffer from the injury. “I am waiting for God to help me in my suffering,” he said.

Three prayer points for Oumar

Open Doors has invited Christians worldwide to join in three specific prayers for the young man:

• Thank God for protecting Oumar from what the organisation called a devastating attack.
• Ask for his complete healing as he continues to receive medical care.
• Pray for peace and deliverance across the entire Far North region of Cameroon.

The attack on Oumar is the latest in a pattern of violence that has displaced thousands and left Christian communities in the Far North increasingly vulnerable. Open Doors says Boko Haram and ISWAP continue to target believers in the region, forcing many to flee their homes or practise their faith in secret.

Image credit: Open Doors

By Pierre Tchuente — Security and Policy Analyst