Nigeria’s terrorist group Boko Haram has abducted the wife of Cameroon’s Deputy Prime Minister, the Cameroonian military has announced. It says the abduction took place in the northern Cameroonian town of Kolofata.

A local religious leader and mayor was also abducted from the same town.

Boko Haram has stepped up cross-border attacks into Cameroon in recent weeks, as the army was deployed to the region.

Militants have kidnapped foreign nationals in northern Cameroon before, including a French family and Chinese workers.

The wife of Deputy Prime Minister Amadou Ali and her maid were today taken in “a savage attack” on his home by Boko Haram terrorists, Information Minister Issa Tchiroma said.

Mr. Ali, who was breaking his fast for the Islamic holy month of Ramadan at the time of the attack, managed to escape to a neighbouring town, regional commander Col. Feliz Nji Formekong told the Reuters news agency.

“The situation is very critical here now, and as I am talking to you, the Boko Haram elements are still in Kolofata town in a clash with our soldiers,” he added.

A local politician and his family were also abducted in a separate attack.

Cameroon’s long and porous border with Nigeria means Boko Haram fighters can come and go at will, attacking police stations and villages, and spreading terror throughout the region, says BBC Africa editor Mary Harper.

The group has attacked Cameroon three times in as many days in the past week, killing at least four soldiers, Reuters reports.

On Friday, more than 20 members of the militant group were jailed in Cameroon on charges of possessing illegal firearms and plotting an insurrection.

The armed group is seeking to establish an Islamists state in Nigeria.

Earlier this week, Cameroon, Nigeria, Chad and Niger agreed to form a 2,800-strong regional force to tackle Boko Haram militants.

Efforts to step up regional co-operation gained momentum after Boko Haram caused an international outcry by abducting more than 200 girls from a boarding school in north-eastern Nigeria.

The girls are thought to be held in the vast Sambisa forest, along Nigeria’s border with Cameroon.

Many Nigerian civilians in border towns have fled to Cameroon to escape from the Boko Haram attacks.

•Adapted from a BBC report. Photo shows Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau and close aides in front of the group’s armoured cars.