North West: Military Kills Separatists in Collaborative Ambush
Cameroon’s defence forces say they killed 11 separatist fighters, including a man identified as Self-styled general, Mbansah, in the North West Region. The army added that the body of the leader could not be evacuated from the area.
According to a fax message obtained by CNA from a security source, the incident occurred on the afternoon of January 6, 2026, around 3:00 p.m., when an armed group of about 20 fighters on nine motorcycles, moving from Bui Division towards Ngashong, fell into an ambush laid by troops from the Ntabah and Mbawrong forward operating posts, assisted by three civilian guides.
Adjutant Njeck Roger Teko of the 52nd Motorised Infantry Battalion (52nd BIM) sustained a gunshot wound to his left hand during the operation.
CNA learned that the fighters were neutralised during a joint ambush along the Nfap stretch of road. Armed Fulani (Mbororo) militias, reportedly hired from Nigeria, also assisted the Cameroon Army in the operation.
The army initially recovered nine weapons, including one Galil machine gun and eight AK-47 rifles, along with nine motorcycles.
“During the exfiltration of the combat group, troops engaged the fighters’ reinforcements, neutralising one additional fighter and recovering another weapon, bringing the total number of weapons seized to ten,” the statement said.
Several automatic rifles and ammunition were recovered following the incident, which reportedly caused panic in nearby communities.
The injured soldier was stabilised while receiving treatment at the Ntabah Health Centre.
Since 2016, the Anglophone conflict has led to the creation of armed groups to fight the central government, whom they accused of marginalising them. Thousands have died, including civilians, government, and separatist forces. On October 1, 2017, the Separatists declared independence of the two Anglophone regions, but the government rejected this breakaway and has since beefed up security in the regions.
