Bamenda: Cameroon's defence forces have announced the successful elimination of 11 separatist fighters, including a self-proclaimed leader known as General Mbansah, during an operation in the North West Region. Despite the success, the army reported that the body of the leader could not be retrieved from the combat zone.
According to Cameroon News Agency, a fax message obtained from a security source detailed that the incident took place on January 6, 2026, at approximately 3:00 p.m. An armed group of about 20 fighters, traveling on nine motorcycles from Bui Division towards Ngashong, was ambushed by troops from the Ntabah and Mbawrong forward operating posts, with the assistance of three civilian guides.
The operation saw Adjutant Njeck Roger Teko of the 52nd Motorised Infantry Battalion (52nd BIM) sustain a gunshot wound to his left hand. CNA reported that the fighters were neutralised in a coordinated ambush along the Nfap stretch of road, with support from armed Fulani (Mbororo) militias, reportedly hired from Nigeria, assisting the Cameroon Army.
Initially, the military recovered nine weapons, including a Galil machine gun and eight AK-47 rifles, as well as nine motorcycles. During the subsequent exfiltration of the combat group, troops encountered reinforcements from the fighters, resulting in the neutralisation of an additional combatant and the recovery of another weapon, increasing the total number of seized weapons to ten.
The operation also led to the recovery of several automatic rifles and ammunition, which caused alarm among nearby communities. The injured soldier was stabilised at the Ntabah Health Centre.
The conflict in the Anglophone regions of Cameroon, ongoing since 2016, has led to the formation of armed groups opposing the central government, accusing it of marginalisation. This conflict has resulted in thousands of deaths, affecting civilians, government forces, and separatists alike. Despite the separatists' declaration of independence on October 1, 2017, the government has firmly rejected the secession and increased security measures in these regions.