at least five soldiers killed during an attack in the southwest of the country – RT in French

Following attacks by armed men in southwest Cameroon, not far from the border with Nigeria, at least five Cameroonian soldiers have reportedly been killed.

Two attacks took place between January 2 and 3 in southwest Cameroon, in the Akwaya district, near the border with Nigeria. According to testimonies from residents, they were carried out by Nigerian attackers belonging to a Fulani (Fulani) militant group who were seeking to occupy the area.

“After suffering losses during the first exchanges of fire, the Fulanis withdrew and returned with larger numbers of fighters and with more sophisticated rifles,” Bakinjaw village chief Agwa Linus Tarnonge told the media. Voice of America (VOA). “They attacked our military contingent, based at the chief’s palace in Bakinjaw, killing five soldiers and two gendarmes,” Tarnonge said.

For his part, the deputy of Akwaya district, Aka Martin Tyoga, clarified to Reuters that “the attack occurred early” on January 3, “when hundreds of armed Fulani herdsmen crossed the border into Nigeria’s Taraba State to attack a military post,” the news agency reported.

“This is not the first time they have attacked, it is very unfortunate,” said the MP, referring to reprisals after Cameroonian soldiers killed several shepherds. According to him, five soldiers died.

The villagers of the district in question, cited by VOAspecified that “these armed men managed to reach their villages by crossing the Moon River”. Located south of the border between Cameroon and Nigeria, this river saw its level drop considerably during the dry season, making it easier to cross on foot, according to the same source.

So far, no armed group has officially claimed responsibility for the attack.