By Peter Kum

MAROUA, Cameroon

At least three people, including two suicide bombers, were killed in a suspected Boko Haram attack near a mosque in Kerawa city of Cameroon’s Far North region on Friday.

"Two women suicide bombers wanted to enter Kerawa mosque, where Muslims were gathered for morning prayers. The bombers blew themselves up when they noticed that members of a vigilance

committee had spotted them," Mohamed Bamsi, an Imam of the mosque said.

"The bombers died in the explosion, while a faithful, who was about to enter the mosque, was also killed," Bamsi added.

A military officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to media, said security forces were expecting an attack from Boko Haram -- a Nigerian militant group.

"There is at least one attack perpetrated by Boko Haram in the region every Friday. So this Friday should not be the exception," he added.

More than 20 civilians were killed in Boko Haram attacks between January and June 2017 in Northern Cameroon, according to the country's Ministry of Defense.

Around 26 million people in the Lake Chad region have been affected by Boko Haram violence and more than 2.6 million displaced, according to the UN.

Cameroon is part of a regional task force that aims to eradicate the militant group that has so far killed more than 2,000 Cameroonians, according to government officials.