Southern Cameroons Crisis: 4 civilians, 4 separatists killed in Menchum clashes

Four civilians and four suspected separatist fighters were killed in clashes in war-torn Northwest region, a security source said early Wednesday.

The incident occurred Tuesday in Koshin village in the region’s Menchum division.

The source said that suspected separatist fighters opened fire indiscriminately in the village, killing four villagers who were standing in a crowd.

Nearby government troops were alerted and confronted the fighters as they were attempting to retreat after the shooting, the source said, adding that four of the suspected fighters were killed in the ensuing battle.

Local authorities said additional troops had been deployed to the area to restore peace and order.

A crisis has been ongoing in Cameroon’s English-speaking Northwest and Southwest regions since 2017, where separatists seek to create an independent nation.

By Jacques Eboka Eboka with files