Maroua , Cameroon ( CNN ) -- The governor of Cameroon 's Far North Region on Thursday said threats posed by militant Islamist group Boko Haram were `` very critical . '' Speaking in Mokolo , Gov . Joseph Beti Assomo told reporters that all senior state security officials , divisional heads and religious leaders have been put on the alert . Some 600 soldiers in the Far North region have been ordered out of their barracks and strategically deployed in localities close to the border with Nigeria , he added . Cameroon 's regional governments have intensified rigorous checks after Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan ordered border closures with some neighboring countries , including Cameroon , due to threats from the Boko Haram . Residents in the Far North capital of Maroua have been reporting to police a growing number of strangers and unusual occurrences . The Far North Region is largely Muslim and shares a border with northern Nigeria , where the Boko Haram is based . Trade and custom officials in Maroua say nearly 80 % of its regional economy has shrunk since the closure of the borders . Consumers of Nigerian sugar , flour , cement and other manufactured products are concerned about plummeting supplies , while smuggled Nigerian fuel , locally called `` zoua-zoua , '' is the object of sharp price hikes . The Far North Region is home to more than 2 million people , according to an official head count . Recent weeks have seen an escalation in clashes between Boko Haram and security forces in Nigeria 's northeastern states of Borno and Yobe , as well as attacks on churches and assassinations . Boko Haram ( which according to the group means `` Western civilization is forbidden '' ) is demanding the imposition of Islamic sharia law across Nigeria . CNN 's Tim Lister contributed to this report .
Government in Cameroon region on alert . Officials concerned about activity of militant Islamist group . Boko Haram has clashed with forces in neighboring Nigeria .