Three Soldiers Killed in Ambazonian Ambush in Magba, Western Cameroon

According to local and military sources, the soldiers were traveling in a military 4x4 vehicle, possibly heading to a nearby outpost, when they were suddenly attacked by an estimated forty Ambazonian fighters lying in wait. The separatists, believed to be from factions affiliated with the Ambazonia Decolonization Forces, Unity Warriors of Bui, and the Dornga Mantum Brigade, opened heavy fire on the vehicle.

Casualties and Confirmed Fatalities

The ambush resulted in the deaths of:

The local post commander
The driver
A soldier identified as Poumpembop

Two additional personnel — a soldier and a police officer — were gravely injured and rushed to the hospital. Their current condition remains critical.

Weapons Seized, Separatists Claim Victory

Ambazonian activist Mark Bara posted on Facebook that the operation was a “bold cross-border strike,” with fighters seizing weapons of Western and American origin from the Cameroonian military. Another pro-Ambazonian voice, Ayuk Ojong, stated the mission was a joint operation targeting “Biyameroun terrorist soldiers.”

A statement circulating on separatist-linked platforms claims the operation was launched in Maloun le Petit, a strategic area close to the border between the West Region and Bui County. This is reportedly the second ambush in the exact location in recent weeks.

Local Fear and Government Silence

Eyewitnesses from nearby communities reported hearing heavy gunfire starting around 4:00 AM. Following the attack, the area was reportedly deserted, with roads blocked off by military personnel searching for the assailants. Locals describe a “ghost town atmosphere” as fear grips the region.

Despite mounting casualties, the Cameroonian government has not released an official statement, a silence critics say reflects a worrying pattern of denial and underreporting.

Ongoing Anglophone Crisis

The incident is the latest in Cameroon’s deepening Anglophone crisis, which began in 2016 with peaceful protests by lawyers and teachers in the English-speaking Northwest and Southwest regions. The government’s violent crackdown on those protests gave rise to a full-blown separatist insurgency.

Today, separatist fighters seek to create an independent state called Ambazonia, leading to a protracted conflict that has:

Killed thousands
Displaced over one million people
Destroyed entire communities
Left schools and hospitals across large areas non-functional

A recent BBC Africa Eye documentary titled "The Land That Bleeds" explored the humanitarian cost of the war, describing it as “one of the world’s most neglected crises.”

Calls for Peace Growing Louder

International bodies including the United Nations, African Union, and European Union have urged the Cameroonian government to engage in genuine dialogue with separatist leaders. However, critics argue that military action remains the state's default response.

As one local in Magba put it: